Millwood considers turn lanes to reduce jams on Argonne

Relief could be on the way in the form of turn lanes for commuters battling traffic congestion along Argonne Road in Millwood. 

The Millwood City Council examined strategies to improve traffic at its February meeting.

Matt Gillis of Welch Comer and Associates suggested turn lanes at intersections could be added largely with federal money.

“The potential project we are looking at is consistent with the corridor study that was done eight years ago,” Gillis said. “It is opening the relief valve on Argonne and one of the ways to do that is to add left turn lanes at one or more intersections.”

Funding could be available through federal money administered by the Spokane Regional Transportation Council, Gillis said.The program is aimed at projects that improve air quality by reducing traffic jams.

Officials who examine proposals for the federal money will ask if the project is “regionally significant” and if it will reduce congestion, Gillis said.

“I think you can easily say Argonne Road is regionally significant and creating turn lanes would clearly help congestion,” Gillis said.

The program has $3.5 million available to award in Spokane Regional Transportation Council’s jurisdiction from 2016 through 2019.

“We have a few things going on obviously,” Mayor Kevin Freeman said about seeking the grant funding. “We’ve got traffic congestion issues we’ve dealt with historically along Argonne.”

Gillis offered to compose a “menu list” of projects with estimated costs for the council to choose what projects to pursue. 

The council agreed to draft the list but said the primary focus should be the intersection at Argonne and Euclid. 

Applications for the federal money are due to the transportation council at the end of April. Winners will be announced in July. If the Argonne project is approved, the city would have to come up with a 13.5 percent local match.

New Millwood brewery

Also during its meeting, the council changed the zoning at 9005 E. Frederick Ave. from multifamily residential with nonconforming commercial use to commercial. This clears the way for a new restaurant and brewery.

Owners Shelley and Chuck Watkins plan to convert the former Cunningham Studio building into Mill Towne Brewery.  The planned opening is fall 2016.

“I’m so excited,” Shelley Watkins said in a phone interview following the meeting. “That property has been sitting for a long time.”

The Mill Towne Brewery will host a 1,800 square foot brewery that will offer seven different beers along with seasonal beers. A family-friendly restaurant will serve pizza and Italian-themed dishes. 

Having purchased the property last November, the couple are in the process of selecting an architect.

As part of the remodel, the couple intend to add about 2,500 square feet to the existing building and renovate the interior. The couple plan to demolish two buildings there to make more room for parking.