Thor-Freya street work planned

Two one-way arterials on Thor and Freya streets in the East Central Neighborhood are slated for construction as early as this spring.

Spokane Rock Products submitted the low bid of $3.36 million, which was 17 percent below the engineering estimate, for reconstruction and realignment of Thor and Freya streets between Sprague and Hartson avenues. Federal funds are being used for the project.

The City Council is expected to authorize the contract at its 3:30 p.m. Monday meeting in Council Chambers at City Hall. If approved, the bid sets the stage for construction work this spring, said Tom Arnold, director of engineering services.

Plans call for converting Freya to a one-way street northbound and Thor to a one-way street southbound to improve pedestrian safety and traffic flow through the busy commercial area and interchanges with Interstate 90.

A new street carrying northbound traffic from Thor to Freya would be built at the south end of the project.

Improvements will include “bump-out” curbs at intersections to shorten pedestrian crossing distances. Sheridan Elementary School, 3737 E. Fifth Ave., lies along the Freya portion of the corridor.