Busy crossing to get safer
Wide crosswalk, flashing lights planned for Elm Street
Drivers in Cheney will have to find an alternate route along Elm Street between the new Eastern Washington University Recreation Center and the Pence Union Building.
Construction started last week to improve the intersection, making it safer for pedestrians and easier for Spokane Transit Authority buses to turn the corner.
The project is being funded through a grant from STA and capital improvement funds from EWU. The city of Cheney is managing the project.
Troy Bester, senior project manager of construction and planning services at EWU, said the new intersection will include a wide crosswalk for students crossing between the PUB and the Rec Center, a permanent speed-indicator sign and yellow flashing lights.
“We wanted to make it visible,” Bester said.
The university has been planning the project since construction of the rec center.
University-hired consultants conducted a survey showing that the intersection is busiest while school is in session between noon and 1 p.m. More than 300 cars and 300 pedestrians, on average, make their way through that intersection at that time.
Bester said that although that intersection is busy, it wasn’t busy enough to warrant a traffic light.
The project will also include more room for STA buses to turn onto Elm Street. Before the improvements, the buses had to enter oncoming traffic to make the turn. The removal of a retaining wall will widen the lane and will make room for a wider sidewalk.
“For what they’re contributing, we get a great, safe bus stop,” Bester said of the STA grant.
Arlene Fisher, Cheney’s city administrator, said the project will cost about $159,000. STA awarded Cheney a grant of $90,000 specifically for this project; the remaining cost will be covered by the university.
The city is overseeing the project.
“It’s a high-traffic area, not only for pedestrians but for STA as well,” Fisher said.
Lighting improvements will be made on the south side of the street as well, Bester said.
The project started Aug. 3. Bester hopes to have the street open by the end of next week. Final construction should be finished by Sept. 23, when school begins.