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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Trail proposed for Southgate area

Plan calls for paving portion of 44th Avenue from Freya to Myrtle streets

As engineers for the city of Spokane get ready to rebuild Havana Street south of 37th Avenue in 2015, they are also proposing a new paved pathway on an undeveloped portion of the 44th Avenue right of way.

Last week, city officials held a meeting for Southgate Neighborhood residents to talk about plans for the pathway that would run from Freya Street to Havana.

The trail would be built on the undeveloped section from Freya to Myrtle Street and the paved portion of 44th from Myrtle to Havana.

Currently, the undeveloped portion is forested.

The trail opportunity came up because the Havana Street reconstruction includes installation of a new water main there.

The city cannot shut off the water on Havana without disrupting service to the neighborhood. The plan involves installing a new transmission line from Freya to Myrtle on the 44th Avenue alignment to serve the neighborhood and create greater redundancy in the system.

Work on the new line for the 44th Avenue right of way is scheduled to start in December from Freya to Julia Street. The segment from Julia to Myrtle would be installed next spring. A transmission line already exists in 44th from Myrtle to Havana.

Trees growing over the new water line route are being logged.

The city wants to finish the job with a 12-foot paved trail, which is called for in the neighborhood plan.

Julie Happy, spokeswoman for the city, said the trail got a mixed reaction from residents attending last week’s meeting.

She said a majority of those attending favored the trail, although some opposed it because they don’t want to see even a trail-width segment of the natural area paved. Others said the trail should only be 10 feet wide.

City officials prefer a 12-foot-wide path because it is safer for two-direction travel.

Happy said trees will be replanted after construction. “It should still have that natural feel,” she said.

The Havana Street reconstruction will include a 32-foot-wide street, new curbs, stormwater facilities, additional sidewalks, bike lanes and landscaping from 37th to Glenrose Road. A new 36-inch water main will be installed as well.

The project is part of the city’s new integrated approach to street and utility construction in which the city combines a range of improvements and funding sources for each street project.

Voters endorsed the concept with a 77 percent yes vote on a street ballot measure earlier this month.