Portion of North Road changed to Yukon Road

Conventional wisdom says things can’t be in two places at once. At least they shouldn’t be, according to Spokane County commissioners.

Commissioners voted last week to rename one of two sections of North Road that have the same numbers. The change is intended to keep emergency responders from going to the wrong house.

The overlapping sections of North Road are north of Hamilton Road, about three miles south of Deer Park. One section is on the east side of U.S. Highway 395; the other is on the west side.

As soon as the U.S. Postal Service and other affected agencies make necessary changes, the portion east of U.S. 395 will become Yukon Road.

Commissioners delayed their decision so county engineers could study a suggestion at a Sept. 25 hearing that it would be better to rename the portion west of U.S. 395 because most of North Road is on the east side.

That way, motorists wouldn’t have to cut across on Hamilton Road to continue a journey on North Road, suggested Bill Thompson, a consulting engineer who lives on North Road.

But county engineering administrator Pat Harper said a survey of a dozen residents in the overlapping sections of North Road – in which 10 responded – showed a 7-3 preference to stick with the original proposal to rename the section east of U.S. 395.

There are only two houses east of 395, compared with 10 on the other side.