Getting There: Additional damage found in areas of I-90 currently under repair; STA bus fares rise July 1
The contractor working to fix Interstate 90 in downtown Spokane reportedly found more extensive damage to bridge joints than expected, extending the time it will take to complete repairs.
As a result, work on the westbound lanes has been postponed until after the July 4 holiday, said Al Gilson, spokesman for the state Department of Transportation in Spokane.
“After the contractor opened up the eastbound bridges and was able to see under the pavement, there was more damage than expected,” Gilson said in an email last week.
So far, most of the work has been in the eastbound lanes, focused on a set of bridge joints over Third Avenue.
The freeway has been reduced to two lanes eastbound.
The lane restrictions combined with an ongoing series of accidents has caused traffic to crawl through the area for several weeks now.
All lanes are expected to be open for Hoopfest this weekend and during the July 4 holiday period.
Last week, the eastbound freeway was completely closed during overnight hours to allow for the work.
West Company Inc., of Airway Heights, has a $1.6 million state contract for the work.
Bike Swap raises funds for trail work
This year’s annual Bike Swap & Expo in April netted $26,000 for Centennial Trail work, organizers said last week.
More than 800 used bicycles were registered for resale and about 650 of them were sold, according to LeAnn Yamamoto, Spokane’s Bike Swap event coordinator.
Funds from the Bike Swap are dedicated to the trail builders’ fund of the Friends of the Centennial Trail.
Loreen McFaul, executive director of the friends organization, said the Bike Swap contribution is the largest source of funds for locally sponsored trail improvements.
Attendance at the Bike Swap on April 8 was estimated at 2,500 people, which was down slightly from previous years, possibly due to inclement weather, Yamamoto said.
Bus fare going up
The Spokane Transit Authority is going to raise bus fares on July 1.
The cash price for a two-hour pass will go from $1.50 to $1.75.
Most riders use longer-term passes.
The monthly 31-day pass, the most popular bus fare, will go from $45 to $50. Employee commuters are often eligible to buy discounted passes from their workplace to help reduce commuter trips.
Other types of fares will increase by similar amounts.
The STA board of directors has a policy of collecting at least 20 percent of the agency’s revenue through fares.
A second increase is set for July 1, 2018. The cash fare will go to $2 and the monthly pass will be $60 at that time.
The fare increases are part of STA’s plan to expand services, including creation of a Central City Line.
Voters last fall approved two small sales tax increases to finance those improvements, including a tenth-of-a-penny sales tax this April and a second tenth-of-a-penny increase in April 2019.
The fare increases were seen as a way to ensure that riders contribute their share.
Already, the agency has added new service in Spokane Valley and extended service on many routes.
Highway roadwork
Out on the freeway, the state has started a repaving project between Fishtrap and Sprague on I-90.
Whitworth Water District has work on U.S. Highway 395 near Winchester Drive with shoulder restrictions.
Numerous rural highways in Eastern Washington are undergoing pavement work. Single-lane traffic with pilot cars is in effect in those work zones.
Corrosion repairs are underway on the Columbia River Bridge at Northport.
Sidewalk improvements on Division and Browne streets downtown continues to cause lane restrictions and backups.
Eastbound off-ramps at Liberty Lake may be backed up due to construction there. Work hours are from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m.
The city of Spokane is stockpiling future fill material for the North Spokane freeway adjacent to Greene Street at Marietta Avenue.
Bridge joint repairs are underway on the U.S. Highway 395 bridge over the Little Spokane River. Congestion is likely.
Pavement and sidewalk work are underway on state Highway 904 from Cheney to Mullenix Road. Paving starts on June 26.
In the city
In Spokane, several city parks now have 20 mph speed zones for the summer season, including A.M. Cannon, Chief Garry, Comstock, Hays, Lincoln, Mission and Shadle parks.
Drivers are reminded to obey the seasonal slowdowns.
On Monday, the intersection of 37th Avenue and Ray Street will be closed for work. Also, 37th from Freya to Regal streets will also be closed.
Strong Road from Rustle to Phoebe avenues is closed for water installations.
Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center is doing emergency training on Thursday, which will lead to closure of Eighth Avenue.
Hoopfest street closures will start at 7 p.m. Friday.
Spokane County
In Spokane County, work continues on three large projects on Market Street, Monroe and Wall streets and the Ritchey Road Bridge.