Construction work closes Hayford stretch

A portion of Hayford Road, a major link between Interstate 90 and Airway Heights, will be closed to traffic starting today through early October.

A sewer line is being installed, and the deep trench requires opening a wide gash in the road.

The sewer line will connect portions of Airway Heights to a new wastewater treatment plant the city is building at 21st Avenue and Lawson Road.

“This is going to impact a lot of people,” said Tom Pike, safety manager for Imco General Construction of Ferndale, Wash., the contractor on the $28 million project.

“That line is so deep that we have to take the whole road,” he said.

A detour will be in place via McFarlane Road to Garfield Road, west of Hayford, to U.S. Highway 2. The intersection of Garfield and U.S. 2 will be controlled by a traffic light.

Hayford Road connects U.S. 2 and Northern Quest Casino with the Medical Lake interchange on I-90.

The state Department of Transportation said it does not expect the detour to affect traffic flow on U.S. 2 through Airway Heights.

Barker bridge dedicated

The new Barker Road Bridge over the Spokane River was dedicated last week after two years of construction.

It replaces a 1952 span that was only 36 feet wide and had two travel lanes.

The new bridge is 72 feet wide and has one lane in each direction, a center divider lane, 6-foot sidewalks and 5-foot bicycle lanes.

Spokane Valley Mayor Tom Towey said in a news release that the dedication underscored the importance of connecting neighborhoods, friends and families on both sides of the river.

The $11.2 million project was financed with federal and city funds.

I-90 work near state line

Work is continuing along the westbound lanes of I-90 on the Washington side of the state line for construction of a new port of entry there.

The westbound shoulder is closed through the construction zone, and trucks may be entering or exiting the freeway at the construction site.

In addition, fiber optic cables are being laid into I-90 from Sullivan Road to the Idaho state line to connect five new traffic cameras and a variable message board.

Freeway lanes will not be affected, but shoulders may be closed.

Lane restrictions on 395

An oil sealing operation on U.S. Highway 395 from Loon Lake north to Immel Road is planned for Thursday and Friday and will cause traffic to be reduced to one lane in each direction.

Flaggers and pilot cars will direct single lines of traffic through the area.

Congestion and delays are anticipated, the state DOT said.

U.S. 395 in the vicinity of Wandermere is still reduced to one lane in each direction while contractors build an interchange with the new north Spokane freeway set to open in 2011.

Repaving work is finished north of Hatch Road and will move south to the segment from Country Homes Boulevard to Hastings Road. Work is being done during evening and early morning hours.

Northeast street work

Work begins today to rehabilitate Addison and Standard streets north of Francis Avenue, and Beacon Street from Dakota to Nevada streets. The work will include upgraded storm drains and new curb ramps. Traffic will be detoured to Francis, Magnesium Road, Division Street and Nevada.

The $1.7 million project is funded by the 10-year Spokane street bond and the city water department.

Southeast street work

Spokane city crews will begin work today to install new water mains in Hartson and 11th avenues from Havana to Sherman streets. The following streets also will be repaired during the $3.5 million project: 11th Avenue from Altamont Boulevard to Julia Street; North Altamont from 11th to Ninth avenues; and Ninth Avenue from Perry to Julia streets. Ninth will be closed to motorists from Hatch Road to Perry as the project progresses. Local access will be maintained.

This project also is funded by the 10-year street bond.