Traffic slowed on I-90 near Lincoln exit

Traffic on Interstate 90 was slowed this morning near the Lincoln Street exit as a result of construction jobs. Other exits also had back ups in the downtown area. Officials said they expect congestion to continue until work is completed late this week. The city of Spokane has a contractor laying a final lift of pavement on Second Avenue in the downtown area. Lane restrictions are in place this week, which slowed traffic coming into downtown from the Lincoln and Maple exits. Ann Deasy, city spokeswoman, said the restrictions will last through the week. Some intersections are closed. Second was reduced to one lane of traffic on Monday from Howard to Sunset Boulevard. The roadway has obstructions from utility casings, but they are marked with orange paint so that drivers can avoid them. Paving work from Sunset Boulevard to Browne is scheduled for Thursday and Friday nights at 7 p.m. through 6 a.m. the next morning, weather permitting. Paving last weekend was completed from Arthur to Division, allowing that segment to reopen, Deasy said. Reconstruction work on the segment from Browne to Howard streets is expected to start next week. Sprague and First avenues are the recommended detour routes. Spokane Falls Boulevard at the University District campus is closed, but traffic is allowed to get around the construction area on Riverpoint Boulevard. The $2.1 million project on Second is now in its second year and is funded through a voter-approved bond issue in 2004. A contractor ran out of time last fall to finish the final layer of pavement downtown.