State Oks $6 Million For Interchange

Sat., April 11, 1998

Angie Gaddy Staff Writer

Last week the state formally approved $6 million to help pay for the planned freeway interchange at Evergreen Road.

Now state and Spokane County officials are waiting for a check from developers before starting on the new Interstate 90 interchange.

The $23.4 million project will be paid jointly by the state, Spokane County and three developers who own property near the interchange: Hanson Industries, Inland Empire Paper Co., and JP Realty, owner of the Spokane Valley Mall.

“We need (the money) in bond, cash, credit card, whatever in hand before it’s built,” said assistant county engineer Ross Kelley.

Last fall, the three developers had verbally pledged to pay somewhere between $7.1 to $7.2 million toward the interchange, Kelley said.

Raymond Hanson of Hanson Industries has said he’s concerned about how much he will pay toward the interchange. Earlier this year he said he would do traffic and economic impact studies to determine his fair share.

JP Realty has verbally agreed to pay about $2.5 million toward the interchange. Inland Empire Paper Co., an affiliate of Cowles Publishing Co., which owns The Spokesman-Review, said it will pay $2.1 million.

Talks between the county and developers are continuing, said Wayne Andresen, president of Inland Empire Paper Co.

If all funding is in place, state transportation officials can begin purchasing right-of-way for the interchange. Actual construction probably would not begin this year, said Jerry Lenzi, regional administrator for the Department of Transportation.

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