No worry; I-90 cracks a normal side effect
Drivers may be wondering about the black cracks on the newly resurfaced eastbound lanes of the Interstate 90 viaduct in downtown Spokane. Weren’t they just fixed?
The cracks stand out like bad varicose veins. But Robert Blegen, the Washington state Department of Transportation’s assistant engineer on the project, said they aren’t an indicator of trouble.
“It definitely shouldn’t be construed as any sort of faulty materials or poor workmanship because for an overlay, it’s normal,” Blegen said.
The cracks occur because of the makeup of the concrete – a type that is designed to dry in three days as opposed to the 28 days required with a normal concrete mix, he said.
They show up so well because a black sealant is used on them, but they are very small and won’t cause the pavement to wear away faster, Blegen said.
As for the sorry condition of the downtown exits and on-ramps, most won’t be repaired until 2008, said Department of Transportation spokesman Al Gilson. They weren’t repaired at the same time as the viaduct because they are asphalt rather than concrete like the freeway, Gilson said.
One exception – the west- bound Monroe/Jefferson on- ramp – will be repaired next year.
Yellow means slow down
If the bright yellow signs don’t get your attention, maybe the flashing lights will.
Five Spokane Valley elementary schools will sport new school-zone signs with flashing lights, thanks to a grant from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission.
A commission study found that flashing lights prompted drivers to slow down 5-7 mph more than drivers in 20 mph school zones without lights.
Progress, Seth Woodard, Trentwood, Broadway and University elementary schools will all have the lights.
The city of Spokane Valley wrote the grants and selected the schools, said Central Valley School District spokeswoman Melanie Rose.
“We like to see our kids safe as they go back to school,” Rose said.
Most schools will be back in session this week, so be careful.
iPod lovers take note
You’d better buy one of those car stereo adaptors because wearing headphones while driving is a definite no-no.
“I see it often when I’m driving around in my personal car because I don’t have the big light bar on top,” said Washington State Patrol Trooper Jeff Sevigney.
Using headphones while driving is illegal in Washington. The ticket is $101.
“It’s really dangerous to get into the habit, because you don’t have an awareness of your surroundings,” said Sevigney. “People think it’s just like listening to stereo in the car, but it’s not.”
It’s worse in some ways than other distractions because it blocks outside noise. With headphones, drivers can’t hear squealing tires, sirens or horns.
Said Sevigney: “I like to say, when you’re driving, you should be driving.”
Idaho State Police Trooper Chris Donahue said an Idaho law banning headphones while driving was repealed, but inattentive driving can be a problem. Wearing headphones could fall into that category.
“We rely on the general public to report inattentive driving,” Donahue said.
Pave over everything
Traffic congestion can be solved nationwide by 2030 by building 104,000 more lane miles at a cost of $533 billion, according to a conservative, libertarian think tank, the Reason Foundation.
The group’s new study, Building Roads to Reduce Traffic Congestion in America’s Cities, details the costs on a state-by-state basis.
Washington should spend $6.9 billion to build 1,500 new lane miles. Idaho should build 275 new miles at a cost of $372 million.
The study blasts many state and local governments’ investment in mass-transit options because of the numbers of people who prefer to drive. According to the foundation, that money should be spent on adding lanes.
OK. But just how wide do we want our freeways and highways to be? Maybe there’s a balance between adding road capacity and transit investment.
Slow going
I-90
Crews will be repairing concrete at the Havana and Altamont bridges Tuesday-Thursday. Drivers should expect lane closures in the westbound lanes between Sprague and Altamont from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
North Spokane
Monroe Street is under construction from Francis to Wall, where Wall does intersect with Monroe (Doubters please check a map before calling me). Expect delays.
Rutter Parkway is open with no restrictions, but flaggers will be directing single-lane traffic most days on Highway 291 near Rutter Parkway. Expect delays.
Crestline Street is closed from Lincoln Road to Francis Avenue and from Wellesley Avenue to Decatur. Lincoln Road is closed from Napa Street to Crestline. Detours are in place. Francis Avenue is narrowed to one lane in each direction at Crestline.
West Dennison-Chattaroy Road is closed to all but local traffic between Highway 395 and Perry Road.
Spokane County will be repairing Argonne Road from Stoneman Road to Bigelow Gulch Road on Wednesday. Expect delays. On Thursday they will be repairing Nevada Street from Highway 2 to Hawthorne Road.
Lane Park Drive is closed from Freya Street to Highway 2.
West Plains
Hayford Road is under construction from Highway 2 to Sprague Avenue.
Spokane County will be repairing Cheney-Spokane Road Tuesday from Sherman Road to the Spokane city limits. Expect delays
South Spokane
Highway 195 construction between Rosalia and Plaza will reduce traffic to one lane from 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Flaggers and pilot cars will direct traffic.
The Palouse Highway is under construction from Highway 27 to Odell Road. Pilot cars will direct traffic 24 hours a day. Expect delays.
Bernard Street is closed from 14th-29th avenues. Traffic is detoured to Grand Boulevard and to Lincoln Street.
Freya Street reconstruction will close traffic to all but local access from Hartson and 11th Avenue and from 18th and 37th avenues. Detours are in place.
Regal Road is under construction from 57th to the Palouse Highway. Expect delays.
Spokane Valley
Argonne Road is under construction from 8 p.m.-6 a.m. from Indiana Avenue to Montgomery Avenue. Watch for flaggers.
Adams Road is closed from Fourth Avenue to Eighth Avenue.
Sprague Avenue is closed from Harmony Road to Hodges Road.
Idaho
Prairie Avenue remains under construction between Ramsey and Huetter.
Construction on Lancaster Road between Government Way and Strahorn may cause delays.