Commissioners Approve Six Road Projects Work Will Include Traffic Light At Bigelow And Argonne Plus Paving Projects

With $16 million socked away in reserve, Spokane County commissioners opened the checkbook Tuesday to pay for six road improvement projects across the county.

While the work isn’t monumental in scale - all told, the bill will barely exceed $1 million - it’s sure to bring a smile to many commuters.

The work includes adding traffic lights at a notoriously slow intersection and putting down fresh gravel on nearly 30 miles of rural roads.

Commissioner Kate McCaslin, who is up for re-election this year, said Tuesday she has been prodding the county Engineering Department for several months to come up with the list.

McCaslin will face Sylvia Riddle in the Republican primary Sept. 19.

County Engineer Bill Johns submitted 12 projects at a cost of roughly $2 million, but the three commissioners agreed to pay for only the first six. Most of the work is expected to be finished before the end of the year.

“I think it is foolish not to move ahead with these things this year,” McCaslin said.

While supportive, Commissioner John Roskelley said Tuesday he was slightly concerned about approaching road work in a “piecemeal” fashion. But he ultimately agreed to move forward with the six projects.

Roskelley is also up for re-election and will face Cliff Cameron in the Sept. 19 Democratic primary.

Commissioner Phil Harris also supported the work.

Here is a list of the projects:

Adding a traffic signal at Bigelow Gulch and Argonne roads to replace four-way stop signs, currently a headache for drivers trying to get from the Valley to the North Side. The project should be completed by November. Cost: $100,000.

Putting 2 inches of new asphalt on Sullivan Road between the Spokane River bridge and Trent Avenue. The project should be completed by October. Cost: $250,000.

Building a crosswalk with safety signals across Mission Avenue at Valley Mission Park. The crosswalk will provide access from the park on the north side to the new county swimming pool on the south side. Work should be finished by December. Cost: $40,000.

Raising Silver Lake Road between Granite and Willow lakes to eliminate flooding across the road during the rainy season. Work would begin this fall and be completed in May. Cost: $200,000.

Spreading 3 inches of gravel over 10 miles of rural roads in each of the three commissioner districts. Work should be completed by November. Cost: $300,000.

Digging new ditches or improving them along 10 miles of rural roads in each of the three commissioner districts. The work will improve drainage and stabilize the roads. Work is expected to be finished by November. Cost: $300,000.