Sidewalk Construction Planned Walkways To Be Built Along Stretch Of Highway 2 In Airway Heights

More sidewalks are being built in Airway Heights this summer as the city continues to upgrade its public works amenities.

About $100,000 will be spent through a federal highway grant for approximately 2,600 feet of sidewalk lining both sides of U.S. Highway 2 from Russell Road to Garfield Road.

Cameron Construction of Spokane has a contract to do the job in 30 days.

The project was planned for construction last year but was delayed by a holdup in the grant money.

Steve Goemmel, public works director, said drainage areas for the highway will be installed between the sidewalks and the highway pavement.

A project in 1995 and 1996 brought new pavement, curbs, sidewalks and a traffic light along the highway through the central portion of Airway Heights.

More improvements are planned for 1999.

The city has received approval of a grant to work with the Spokane Transit Authority to build new bus shelters and more sidewalks in the city.

The sidewalks will line the north-south streets that connect U.S. Highway 2 with 12th Avenue near Sunset Elementary School.

Those sidewalks will be part of what the city calls its Safe Walk Zone for schoolchildren. Stormwater will be channeled into drywells along the streets.

In other public works projects, the City Council is considering a ballot measure to raise money for paving residential streets, Goemmel said.

Details of the proposal are still being developed.

Also, the City Council has given a go-ahead to build a 1 million gallon water-storage tank on the south side of the city along McFarlane Road. The five-acre site has one of the city’s main water wells.

Revenue bonds totaling $800,000 are being sold to raise money for the project, which will accommodate some of the growth planned for Airway Heights.

Homebuilders at Hayden Meadows agreed to pay an increased water hookup fee instead of making payments to the project, Goemmel said.

The fee will go from $475 per home for a hookup to $2,475.

Also, water rates for all city residents were revised to raise money for the water project.

Formerly, residents paid $14.20 a month and received 5,000 gallons of water free before paying any water consumption charge.

Monthly rates were dropped to $11.40, but all water used will be billed. The consumption rate will be $1.20 for every 1,000 gallons used, a rate consistent with charges in Spokane.

The preliminary design on the water tank has been finished, and Goemmel said he expects the city to put the project out to bid this fall. Completion would be next spring.

He described the new tank as a “tuna can,” measuring 45 feet in height and about 60 feet in diameter.

In addition to building the new tank, the city is planning to study the pumping potential of drilling its No. 7 well below its existing 400-foot depth.