Roads To Mirabeau Under Way

Thu., Feb. 18, 1999

By Marny Lombard marnyl@spokesman.com (509) 927-2166

Road construction is rolling at Mirabeau Point.

Eller Corp. is almost finished paving Discovery Place, a quarter-mile stretch of roadway that will lead from Mirabeau Parkway to a cul de sac on which the YMCA aquatic center and other Mirabeau buildings will front.

Mirabeau Point Inc.’s share of that project cost is $200,000. Sue Lani Madsen, Mirabeau manager, said Inland Empire Paper Co. is also paying part of the construction cost.

Mirabeau Point is a community complex being developed on the former Walk in the Wild zoo site in the Spokane Valley. It is expected to include a YMCA, senior center, youth center, possibly a performing arts facility, as well as trails and a park.

Another construction company will soon start work on Mirabeau Parkway, the major road through the complex.

Red Diamond Contruction Inc., has been awarded the $562,000 contract to build the southern half of the parkway, which will connect with Indiana Avenue.

Weather permitting, Red Diamond expects to start construction on March 8, said Gary Nelson, Spokane County project engineer.

The northern leg of the parkway, built last fall, extends to Euclid Avenue.

Both of those projects include sewer and water lines for Mirabeau’s buildings.

A traffic light at Euclid and Indiana, as well as a railroad gate and signal will “make that a nice safe road,” said Ross Kelley, assistant county engineer. He estimated the parkway construction should be finished by September.

The Inland Northwest YMCA is expected to break ground on its facility in about two weeks, said Steve Jurich, Valley YMCA director.

Further construction at Mirabeau Point is waiting for more planning decisions to jell, Madsen said. The next building to get under way may be the new senior citizen center, for which Spokane County has set aside $1.5 million. That money is in the county’s six-year capital plan.

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