On-Ramp Would Eliminate Circuitous Interstate Access Project Designed To Cut Pollution By Speeding Traffic Onto Freeway

South Hill motorists, rejoice. Your attempts to get on Interstate 90 should become much easier.

An on-ramp is being proposed that would allow drivers heading north on Division to enter the eastbound freeway from Fourth Avenue instead of having to loop through Second Avenue and Browne Street.

The project was unveiled to City Council members at a Public Works Committee meeting Monday. Funded largely by the Federal Highway Administration, the project is designed to reduce air pollution by speeding traffic onto the interstate.

“The main idea is to get people on the freeway sooner instead of having to make this long journey,” said Darrel McCallum, a project engineer with the state Department of Transportation, which is helping design the on-ramp.

Now, drivers heading north on Division must continue under the freeway to Second, drive west one block to Browne, then head south before getting on the eastbound on-ramp. About 600 to 900 cars make that circuitous trip every hour during rush hour, McCallum said.

The bill for the on-ramp is about $4 million, with the city of Spokane’s share being $202,500, said department assistant regional manager Keith Metcalf.

“That sounds like a good deal,” said Mayor John Talbott. “A $4 million project for $200,000.” In order to make the on-ramp work, a number of other changes will be necessary, said McCallum. The most significant will be turning Fourth Avenue into a one-way street between Division and Cowley and closing it entirely between McClellan and Division.

The first change is because the on-ramp, which will climb up from Fourth, will only be accessible from Division. The second change is in order to reduce the number of streets pouring cars into the Fourth and Division intersection, McCallum explained.

While closed to cars, the street will remain open for bicycles and pedestrians.

Construction on the on-ramp is scheduled to begin next fall and it is expected to take about a year to complete.

The project is designed to help bring Spokane into compliance with federal air pollution regulations, and is being paid for out of federal dollars set aside for air pollution mitigation. As a result, the project will be monitored by the Environmental Protection Agency, said Glenn Miles of the Spokane Regional Transportation Council.

“If we do not have this project done in 18 month after Dec. 31, it triggers a clock that will result in the turning off of federal highway funds,” Miles said. “We have to be done prior to the fall of 2002.”

An open house on the project will be held Nov. 9 at the Budget Inn on Fourth Avenue.