Interchange Forces Mission Detour

Thu., Nov. 18, 1999

By Robin Rivers robinr@spokesman.com

Work on the Evergreen Road interchange project has forced traffic changes along Mission Avenue.

As crews work on the grade from Evergreen down to Interstate 90, traffic is being detoured from Mission along a road that will eventually be the Mission Avenue connector, said Al Gilson, spokesman for the state Department of Transportation.

The detour will be in place until a new Mission Avenue bridge, which will carry traffic over Evergreen, is completed next year, Gilson said.

Work on the interchange began in September after Harcon Inc. of Spokane was awarded the $11.2 million construction contract.

The interchange is being built concurrently with the county’s widening of Evergreen to six lanes from Mission to Sprague Avenue.

The county also will improve Mission from McDonald to Sullivan to handle increased interchange traffic.

Interstate 90 also will be widened one lane in each direction from Pines to Sullivan.

The Evergreen interchange is designed to provide Valley drivers relief from the traffic clogged Pines Road and Sullivan Road interchanges as well as offer better access to the Spokane Valley Mall and nearby retail projects.

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