Getting There: Dead, diseased poplars along I-90 being cut down

Dead and diseased Lombardy poplar trees growing as a visual screen between Interstate 90 and the Spalding Auto Parts wrecking yard will be cut down.

The trees are part of a highway beautification project dating back to Lady Bird Johnson and her advocacy for the 1965 Highway Beautification Act.

A graceful line of Austrian pines made up the original planting in 1970.

But in 1990, state transportation workers logged about 100 of the pines for safety reasons before a public outcry stopped the chain saws. As a result, only a remnant row of the original Lady Bird pines remains at the west end of the tree screen.

Ever since 1990, the state Department of Transportation has been digging its way out of the hole it made for itself.

The poplars were planted amid the controversy because they are a fast-growing tree. But they came with a liability. They are relatively short-lived and prone to disease. They have an expected life of 20 to 30 years. As they get older, they become brittle and can be dangerous if they break down in high wind.

Knowing that the poplars would be short-lived, the state Department of Transportation planted 158 additional trees in 2003 to create new growth as the poplars aged. Those trees are a collection of ponderosa pine, limber pine, Austrian pine and paper birch, which are now about 15 feet tall, about the height of the original trees removed in 1990, state officials said.

Because the 2003 trees are filling out, the state can go in and take out about 50 of the dead and dying poplar trees and maintain the tree screen. The trees to be removed later this fall will be replaced with additional Austrian pines as well as Rocky Mountain junipers.

“We need to remove these dead trees to keep the traveling public and our workers safe,” said Keith Metcalf, regional administrator for DOT. “The remaining poplars, along with the newer trees planted in 2003 and this year, will help enhance the view along Interstate 90.”

Crews will continue the poplar replacement program on an as-needed basis in coming years.

Projects underway around Spokane

In the city of Spokane, repairs to pavement and sidewalks on Ray Street will result in additional lane restrictions on Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The street will be reduced to a single lane of traffic to allow for pouring new concrete from 17th to 18th avenues. Flaggers will be on hand to direct traffic.

Downtown, work on Lincoln Street from Second to Fourth avenues will switch from the northbound to southbound lanes.

Lane restriping and bike lane striping will occur on Spokane Falls Boulevard from Division to Lincoln streets through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day.

In the neighborhoods, repaving is underway on F Street from Rosamond to Sixth avenues.

Chip sealing pavement improvements are underway on Regal Street from Rowan to Francis avenues; 33rd to 36th avenues from Grand Boulevard to Perry Street; and Elm Street from Broadway to Boone avenues.

Major work continues on Indiana Avenue from Ruby to Dakota streets; the Division Street triangle at Spokane Falls Boulevard; High Drive from Grand to Bernard Street; Wall Street from Main Avenue to Spokane Falls; and Havana Street from 37th Avenue to Glenrose Road.

Interstate 90 work will reduce lanes

Interstate 90 is going to see work on Saturday night starting at 8 p.m. until 6 a.m. Sunday.

Workers will be undertaking repairs to the eastbound bridge that serves the Hamilton Street interchange.

Traffic will be reduced to a single lane during the overnight work.

Also on state-managed routes, U.S. Highway 195 continues to have lane restrictions and slowdowns as part of a job to fix and replace older concrete pavement panels. The posted speed limit is 45 mph in the work zone from I-90 to Excelsior Road.

Trent Avenue repaving closures

The big repaving job this year on Trent Avenue from Sullivan Road to the Idaho state line and on the adjacent portion of Sullivan Road will bring ramp closures this week during night and early morning hours.

Westbound on- and off-ramps at Sullivan Road will be closed Thursday night to Friday morning.

The corresponding eastbound ramps will close the following night.

Also, lane restrictions for pavement marking will be in place for Sullivan Road on Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Thursday from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Friday.

Spokane Valley projects continue

In Spokane Valley, Sprague Avenue will have narrowed lanes between Appleway and Arties Road from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. through early October.

Lane restrictions continue on Mansfield Avenue between Pines and Houk roads from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. each day.

The intersection of 32nd Avenue and Collins Road will have lane restrictions from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. until late October. A pedestrian detour will be in place when students arrive and depart from University High School.