Roadwork In The Pipeline Road And Sewer Projects Will Make Improvements, But Cause Inconvenience In Valley This Summer

Orange construction signs and traffic flaggers will appear in several Spokane Valley neighborhoods this summer as workers tackle major road and sewer projects.

Arterials that will be impacted include significant stretches of 32nd and Montgomery avenues, and Progress, University, Park, Vista, and Bowdish roads. Traffic on portions of Eighth, 12th and 24th avenues also will be disrupted periodically this summer.

Sewer work is scheduled for the Towner, Fair Acres, and Glenview areas, and West Valley neighborhoods north of Interstate 90 between Vista and Park roads.

Widening work on 32nd Avenue is the county’s lone remaining major summer road project not yet under construction. Work on a similar project that began last month on Dishman-Mica Road is expected to continue through the next three months, while construction planned for this summer along Upriver Drive is awaiting money.

Glenview’s sewer work is the only one of the Valley construction projects not expected to be completed by the end of the year, said Chad Hutson, county Public Works Department spokesman. The remaining road and sewer projects should be finished by the end of September.

The four Valley sewer projects will connect about 2,000 customers to the county’s sewer system, Hutson said. The work is expected to cost $7.2 million.

Sewer construction began in the Bascetta area along Park Road this spring and diverted traffic for two months. Crews completed work on Park south of Broadway Avenue last week and have started construction in the surrounding neighborhoods.

Broadway Avenue will close for about two weeks beginning Monday to through traffic from Park to Vista roads, said Chad Coles, construction engineer. When completed, the Bascetta sewer project will connect 320 households between Interstate 90 and Sprague Avenue.

Additional sewer construction near Park Road north of Interstate 90 is scheduled to begin later this summer.

Extending sewer to residents in West Valley neighborhoods between the Burlington Northern Railroad tracks on the north, I-90 on the south, Park Road on the west, and Vista Road could begin as early as Monday with the closure of Park north of Broadway Avenue. Work in the West Valley neighborhoods should be completed by summer’s end.

Bringing sewer service to the Towner neighborhoods also has begun. Traffic in the neighborhoods is limited to local cars between Second Avenue on the north, 16th Avenue on the south, Sullivan Road on the east and Progress Road on the west, Coles said.

Crews will be working in the area for several more weeks, eventually connecting hundreds of homes to the sewer.

Projects in the Fair Acres and Glenview neighborhoods are scheduled to follow this summer.

Fair Acres sewer work should begin next month. Traffic will be disrupted in an area bounded by the Burlington Northern railroad tracks on the north, Montgomery Road on the south, Bowdish Road on the east and the railroad tracks on the west while crews attach several businesses to the sewer.

The Glenview neighborhood also will see dirt move this summer. Hundreds of houses will be connected to the sewer between 16th Avenue on the north, 25th on the south, Pines Road on the east and Bowdish Road on the west.

Most of the work in the neighborhood is expected to be completed by the end of the year, but finishing touches could be added next spring, Hutson said.

Two road project also will snarl Valley traffic during the next several months.

Several changes are planned along 32nd Avenue when road construction begins in July between University Road and Highway 27. A two-way turn lane, bicycle lane, curbs and sidewalks will be added to the mile-long stretch.

Traffic will be delayed, but not rerouted, Hutson said. Instead, widening work will be done in stages to reduce the impact on businesses along the road, he said.

Increased residential and commercial development along 32nd Avenue has flooded the area with vehicle, bicycle and foot traffic, prompting the improvement.

“It’s a safety issue,” Hutson said. “That area’s just a lot busier now.”

Construction on the road and sidewalks should be finished by the time school starts in the fall, Hutson said.

Dishman-Mica Road also has seen a traffic surge. Detours are currently routing cars around widening work that began last month on the road between 16th Avenue and Schaffer Road.

Crews are stretching the road to four lanes, adding an eight-foot shoulder on the west side, and building a four-foot bicycle path and sidewalks on the east side.

Dishman-Mica, which is expected to be closed through September, also will be realigned in some areas. Cars are being routed onto 16th Avenue and University Road during the construction.

Engineers cited poor visibility and increased traffic volumes as the need for the $1.6 million project. Authorities investigated 26 accidents along the mile-long stretch during the past three years.

Traffic projections show volumes will increase from the current 14,000 daily trips to more than 20,000 in 13 years.

A third road project along Upriver Drive is on hold awaiting funding, Hutson said. If about $1 million can be found to straighten curves near Plante’s Ferry Park, add a bike lane and pedestrian trail, work could begin this summer.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 2 photos (1 color)

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

Dishman-Mica Road Cost: $1.6 million. Boundaries: 16th Avenue on the north, Schaffer Road on the south. Detour: 16th Avenue and University Road.

32nd Avenue Cost: $2.2 million. Boundaries: Highway 27 on the east, University Road on the west. Detour: None.

West Valley sewer Cost: $2.5 million Boundaries: BNRR on the north, Interstate 90 on the south, Vista Road on the east, Park Road on the west. Arterials impacted: Park and Vista roads.

Towner sewer Cost: $1.2 million. Boundaries: Second Avenue on the north, 16th Avenue on the south, Sullivan Road on the east, Progress Road on the west. Arterials impacted: Progress Road, Eighth and 12th avenues.

Fair Acres sewer Cost: $1.5 million. Boundaries: Burlington Northern Railroad on the north, Montgomery Road on the south, Bowdish Road on the east, BNRR on the west. Arterials impacted: Montgomery and University roads.

Glenview sewer Cost: $2 million. Boundaries: 16th Avenue on the north, 25th on the south, Pines Road on the east, Bowdish Road on the west. Arterials impacted: Bowdish Road and 24th Avenue.