Council Expected To Give Monroe Street A Face Lift

Cars driving along Monroe Street near the Spokane County Court house rattle and shake like dishes in an earthquake.

Come August, street crews are going to transform that rough stretch of road into a smooth surface.

The City Council on Monday is expected to approve plans for the $800,000 reconstruction project, resurfacing Monroe from Bridge to Sinto avenues.

The work will be done in two phases: The section from Bridge to 400 feet north of Mallon will be rebuilt this summer. The stretch from north of Mallon to Sinto will be tackled next year.

The gaping potholes and deep cracks in Monroe’s crumbling asphalt offer glimpses of what lies below one of Spokane’s oldest streets. Bricks, railroad tracks and streetcar tracks peek out from the roadbed.

“Who knows what we might run into” under the pavement, said Phil Williams, the city’s director of engineering services.

Federal dollars aimed at the Lincoln Street bridge project will pay to rebuild Monroe. Once the bridge is built, Monroe will serve as a one-way street southbound from Sinto, while Lincoln will be one-way northbound.

During construction, Monroe will be closed from Bridge to Boone avenues and cars re-routed onto Lincoln Street. Cross streets will be kept open.

The first phase of the project should begin Aug. 11 and take about six weeks.

The city held a meeting last month to talk with businesses about the project. Most of the restaurants, shops and offices along Monroe have entrances off Lincoln or can be reached from side streets.

Business owners along Monroe are less than excited about the dust, noise and general upheaval the project will bring, but they know the work is needed.

“After (the construction), it might be better,” said Barbara Katze, who owns Katze, a dress shop.

“I wish they were doing it in January or February,” said Peggy Welch, owner of the Antique Gallery. “From now until the end of the year is a busy time for us.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo