Transportation Office Backs Concrete Divider On 29th

A controversial chunk of concrete along 29th Avenue designed to keep drivers from turning left off Pittsburg Street should stay in place.

That’s the recommendation from Spokane’s transportation department, which says the traffic barrier makes the intersection safer.

Spokane City Council members tonight will consider what to do about the barrier loved by some neighbors, hated by others.

The city installed the barrier in August 1993 after repeated complaints from residents living near Pittsburg about the intersection’s dangers.

Residents living a few blocks away along Garfield say the barrier displaced drivers accustomed to using Pittsburg to avoid Grand Boulevard. Those drivers ended up on Garfield, making it unsafe for children and increasing accidents, neighbors say.

The number of accidents at the 29th Street and Pittsburg intersection has decreased since the barrier went up, said Bruce Steele, transportation director.

In the 19 months prior to the barrier’s installation, there were 11 accidents - nine of them injury. In the 19 months since, there has been one, non-injury accident.

Along Garfield between 29th and Rockwood Boulevard, there were nine accidents - four with injuries - in the 19 months before the barrier went up, Steele said.

Since installation, there have been seven accidents, two with injuries, he said.

Also tonight, the council will:

Consider issuing the owners of The Mars Hotel a revocable permit that allows them to use the sidewalk for part of their cafe.

Consider a $33,270 contract with Educational Service District 101 to provide job training services at the East Central Community Center.

, DataTimes