Meetings Set For Dangerous Road

The state Department of Transportation will discuss safety improvements for one of the Eastern Washington’s most dangerous roads during meetings this week in Colville and Deer Park.

More than 8,000 people signed petitions last year asking for safety improvements for U.S. Highway 395 north of Spokane. They and Washington politicians convinced Congress to provide $9 million for the work.

Accidents on the highway between Spokane and Loon Lake alone claim about two lives a year, according to DOT statistics.

Among this year’s victims were a 7-year-old boy killed in a collision near the Stevens County town of Addy and a 20-year-old man killed when he lost control of his motorcycle north of Colville.

Among improvements DOT engineers are considering are left-turn lanes and passing lanes from Wildrose Prairie, just north of Spokane, to Kettle Falls. Officials estimate 28 turn lanes would cost $6 million.

The department will discuss the possibilities, and ask for suggestions, during open houses at Deer Park High School on Tuesday and Colville Junior High School on Wednesday. Both meetings will be from 4 to 7 p.m. There is no formal agenda, and participants may attend any time during the open houses.

Written comments can be mailed to Leonard Cash, regional planning engineer, Department of Transportation, N2714 Mayfair, Spokane 99207-2090.