Viaduct work nearly complete

It’s almost over.

Interstate 90 crews today begin the process to move downtown Spokane viaduct traffic back to its normal lanes after three months of construction.

By this time next week, eastbound drivers will be on the newly repaved repaired lanes, and the speed limit will be returned to 60 mph. All downtown freeway lanes, exits and on-ramps will be open.

Traffic will be reduced to just one lane in each direction during the evening and overnight during the approximately five-day transitional period when crews are moving the Jersey barrier, striping lanes and working on signs.

Once work on the viaduct is complete, traffic signals downtown will be returned to their usual timing system, said city of Spokane spokeswoman Marlene Feist.

The Washington State Department of Transportation originally estimated the viaduct project would wrap up in early to mid-September.

But since the weather cooperated and crews encountered no big surprises, the project will be completed three weeks early.

WSDOT spokesman Al Gilson said that drivers helped keep the project on track by obeying the temporary restrictions.

“We really had no major incidents inside the chutes,” Gilson said, adding that most drivers followed the reduced speed limits and stayed in their lanes.

Now the reward is smooth driving on the eastbound side of the viaduct.

But don’t ease off the brakes too quickly. Work rolls to the westbound side next spring, with more lane restrictions, Jersey barrriers, closed on-ramps and reduced speed limits sure to follow.