Valley Drivers Have Wait Off Shoulders Trains, Cars Can Finally Go Separate Ways On Argonne

With 10 minutes to go before the opening ceremony for the Argonne Road underpass, a Burlington Northern train sat blocking the temp- orary crossing.

People who wanted to witness this bit of Spokane Valley history went into a familiar scramble: figuring how to outfox the train.

“I came by University,” said Polly Smith, a Northwood resident.

“I went down to Park and the train was there, too, so I went all the way to Fancher and then back around to Broadway - my usual way,” said Berniece Lundin, who has lived off Upriver Drive for 27 years.

Once the bureaucrats spoke, the West Valley High School cheerleaders frolicked and at least 200 people shivered in the October breeze, the problem disappeared into the history books.

By midmorning Monday, cars and trucks were rolling through the $11 million project that took 16 months to build.

The underpass allows the drivers of 40,000 vehicles using Argonne daily to pass the railroad tracks without increasing anyone’s blood pressure.

“Now our train crews can operate our 60-plus trains without the constant fear of striking a vehicle,” said Gus Melonas, Burlington Northern spokesman.

The railroad loaned some atmosphere for the ceremony, with a new locomotive painted in the company’s bright new colors: orange, green and yellow.

Dennis Scott, head of Spokane County Public Works, told the crowd that traffic problems through the small city of Millwood still must be addressed. About 25,000 vehicles a day clog Argonne through Millwood.

He offered no specifics, beyond saying he hoped a Millwood solution will be in place within 12 years. Past discussion has included a University bypass as one solution to those north Valley traffic problems. That would require building a bridge across the Spokane River.

Scott joked about those who don’t understand why a party was planned for the opening of the underpass. “Obviously that individual has never been stuck here waiting for a train,” he said.

The crowd loved the punch line - and the party.

In neighboring Argonne Village, business people put out the welcome mat for what they hope will be a resurgence of business. The parking lot was jammed.

It wasn’t yet 10 a.m., but the line for a free Longhorn Barbecue buffet was long. An elaborate bypass scene was memorialized in frosting on a sheetcake.

West Valley schoolchildren sang train songs, including the “Chattanooga Choo-Choo,” set to their own lyrics.

I-was-late-because-of-the-train stories are legendary in this part of the Valley.

Randy Ingraham of Longhorn Barbecue said he doesn’t know how many times employees have told him they were late to work because of the trains. “I’ve also seen an ambulance stuck waiting at the track, which is sad,” he said.

More than one wedding at Millwood resbyterian Church has been delayed, as well, while one or more trains cleared the crossing.

About a month of work is left on the underpass project, including removal of the detour railroad crossing and the reopening of a few side streets.

A couple of passing drivers honked in celebration Monday. Stuck at a traffic light, two smiling women and a man in a pickup truck admitted giddily they were making their second run through the underpass.

“We’re the first pickup and camper through,” said Al Piper, the driver. “They should have done this 10 years ago.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo