Nearly Done; Coming Up

The 1997 road construction season in the Spokane Valley is bumping to a stop. Most projects are finished and those not quite done are nearing completion.

Here’s a look at road projects being wrapped up now and what’s in store for Valley motorists next year:

Nearing completion:

Sprague and Fancher: The first phase of the $45 million Sprague Avenue interchange project will be completed by the end of next week. This summer, crews added a new signal system at Sprague and Fancher and did widening work to accommodate additional lanes on Fancher. It’s part of a three-phase project that is designed to join the Valley Couplet.

Pines Road interchange: Within the next two to three weeks, crews will complete installation of a new signal system and finish lane striping. This season, an lane was added to the eastbound off-ramp and the left turn bay from Pines onto Mission was widened from one lane to two.

West Valley sewer project: The sewer work is done, and paving of Indiana between Park and Vista roads should be complete by the end of next week.

Fair Acres sewer project: Street paving should be done by next week in the area bounded by Argonne and Pines, Montgomery and Trent.

Glenview sewer project: Crews will finish paving on Bowdish Road and 24th Avenue next week. Work will resume in 1998.

Coming up:

Upriver Drive: Bicycle lanes will be added on either side of the roadway near Plantes Ferry Park, where a separate pathway will be added to connect with the Centennial Trail. Upriver will be closed from about December 1 to about April 1 between Plante’s Ferry Park and the Islands.

Sprague Avenue I-90 interchange: Crews will continue work on the interchange, which will be completely rebuilt. Next year, crews will add an additional eastbound lane to the freeway and another lane for traffic merging onto the freeway.

Pines Road interchange: The left-turn bay carrying northbound traffic from Pines onto the westbound I-90 on-ramp will be widened from one lane to two.

Pines Road from 32nd Avenue to I-90: Installation of a pavement overlay.

Sprague Avenue from Sullivan to Tschirley: Sewer lines will be installed and Sprague will be rebuilt and widened to five lanes, with curbs and sidewalks.

Sullivan Road from Eighth to Sprague: This project will widen Sullivan and add a two-way, left turn lane.

Mirabeau Parkway: Construction of a new road from Indiana to Euclid to serve the Mirabeau Point development on the former Walk in the Wild zoo site.

Evergreen interchange: County and state officials are waiting for the final $4 million needed from the Legislature to build the $23.4 million I-90 interchange at Evergreen Road. The project is jointly funded by the state, Spokane County, Hansen Industries and Spokane Valley Mall developer JP Realty. If that funding is secured, construction would begin in 1998.

, DataTimes