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

Property taxes will fund I-90 overpass in Post Falls

Local property taxes collected for urban renewal will pay for a new Interstate 90 overpass for Greensferry Road in east Post Falls.

The long-sought overpass will connect businesses and neighborhoods north and south of the freeway and improve public safety response times.

Currently, drivers have to use underpasses at Spokane Street and East Seltice Way to the west or state Highway 41 to the east. Those interchanges are more than 2 miles apart.

Greensferry Road is midway between them.

The $17 million overpass will not include interchange ramps. Federal highway officials won’t allow that, said Brad Marshall, a consultant with J-U-B Engineers Inc., of Spokane.

“It’s been on the wish list for the community for 15 to 20 years,” said Marshall, who has coordinated public involvement in the planning.

A groundbreaking ceremony will be held at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday on the north side of I-90 at Greensferry Road.

The East Post Falls Urban Renewal District will use property tax collections to pay for the project. The funding will involve $5 million in taxes already collected and an estimated loan of $12 million, including interest payments.

The urban renewal district was formed in 2002 and uses taxes off new and increased property values within the district. The district will collect taxes through 2022.

The Greensferry overpass is one of three street projects underway by the district. The others are a $1.7 million extension of Spencer Street to connect with the south side of Seltice Way and an improved bike and pedestrian trail on the east side of Highway 41 from Seltice Way to Mullan Avenue. The trail project is using $300,000 in district funds and a $500,000 state grant through the city of Post Falls.

Thomas Lien, executive director of the Post Falls Urban Renewal Agency, said the projects will improve mobility and enhance opportunities to bring in new or expanding businesses, at the same time reducing blight and deterioration.

Since formation in 2002, the 972-acre East Post Falls district has seen an increase in property value of $152 million and the arrival of several new employers, including Wal-Mart, a retirement home, a rehabilitation hospital, a boat maker and a steel manufacturer.

The urban renewal agency solicited proposals from three qualified firms to undertake what’s known as a “design-build” method for construction.

Ralph L. Wadsworth Construction Co., of Draper, Utah, is teaming up with the nationwide Lochner engineering firm, which has an office in Boise.

The design-build method saves time over traditional bidding because both phases of work proceed simultaneously. The system can also reduce costs, Lien said.

Work will continue through fall and winter and likely will be completed by next fall, Lien said.

The overpass will have two lanes in each direction, a center turn lane, bicycle lanes, sidewalks and connections to the Centennial Trail.

Bruce Road Bridge open part time

Good news for people wanting to travel from Spokane Valley to Green Bluff.

The Bruce Road Bridge over Peone Creek is opening to traffic during evening hours and on weekends while a contractor finishes up the job to build a new span.

Bruce Road is the main route northward from Argonne Road and Millwood. The road has been closed for months due to the $2 million bridge replacement.

The contractor will close the bridge and put up traffic barriers during daytime work hours to complete the last touches. Full completion will be no later than Oct. 27, county officials said.

Ongoing work around the Valley

In Spokane Valley, Fourth Avenue between Blake and McDonald roads will close around the clock starting Wednesday at 7 a.m. through Nov. 26 for utility work. Traffic will detour to Fifth Avenue.

Appleway from Thierman to Park roads continues to have lane restrictions while workers finish improvements there.

Sprague Avenue also has ongoing lane reductions from University to Vista roads.

Fox Road from Sprague to First avenues is closed through Oct. 31 for sidewalk upgrades.

Farr Road from the vicinity of Fourth Avenue to Appleway will also remain closed through Oct. 31.

Sundown Drive between Bowdish Road and Hollow Court will remain closed for sewer work through 5 p.m. Oct. 29.

Preparations for demolition of the southbound Sullivan Road Bridge will cause closure of the Centennial Trail beneath the bridge from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. today through Friday for construction of a protective cover over the trail.

Trail users will be directed to Indiana Avenue between Sullivan Road and the Mission Avenue trailhead.

Lane restrictions on Interstate 90

Drivers on I-90 from Geiger Boulevard to Evergreen Road should be alert for left lane restrictions from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for drain cleaning work in the median.

Open house covers Spotted Road plans

The public is invited to an open house Wednesday from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at Spokane International Airport to consider road improvements there.

The drop-in open house is being held at the Irv Reed Events Center, west of the Ramada Inn at 9211 W. MacFarlane Road. Parking is free.

The Spotted Road intersections with inbound and outbound Airport Drive have had a high number of accidents, and the state is willing to finance a traffic study to figure out how to improve safety and preserve efficient airport access.

J-U-B Engineers Inc., of Spokane, is under contract for the traffic study and is using a public involvement subsidiary, the Langdon Group, to manage communication.

Public comments can be directed to bk@langdongroupinc.com or by phone at (800) 252-8929. A comment period will continue until Nov. 5.

Projects underway across Spokane

In Spokane, the remodeling of NorthTown Mall will force closure of Queen Avenue from Division to Lidgerwood streets through Tuesday for utility work.

One lane on East Sprague Avenue from Hatch to Scott streets will be closed for installation of a new sewer facility.

Final paving on High Drive from Bernard Street to 29th Avenue is expected this week. The intersection of High Drive and 29th is slated for closure on Thursday and Friday.

Drywells are being installed at nine intersections west of Bernard near High Drive.

Work to patch worn ruts on Ray and Thor streets is about finished. The next repair job will be on Broadway Avenue in the vicinity of Havana Street.

Elsewhere, crews are sealing pavement cracks to preserve pavement surfaces, including Belt Street north of Wellesley Avenue.