Highway work may reduce roadkill

Roadkill is one of the sad realities of our auto-dependent transportation system.

But a new emphasis on helping wildlife cross busy highways safely is emerging in projects large and small.

Wildlife bridges and underpasses are a big part of the Washington state Department of Transportation’s plan to widen and improve safety on 15 miles of Interstate 90 near Snoqualmie Pass.

And the Idaho Transportation Department is proposing a bridge on U.S. Highway 95 between Naples and Elmira that would make the roadway safer for drivers and allow wildlife to cross underneath.

“If we put a bridge in and animals can cross underneath, it’s an added benefit,” said Idaho Transportation Department engineer Amy Schroeder.

The two-mile U.S. 95 project also would straighten the roadway, improving visibility and allowing the state to raise the speed limit from 45 mph to 60 mph.

Many conservation groups support the Snoqualmie Pass improvements.

In that case, wildlife issues were part of the planning process from the start because the freeway is such an obvious barrier to wildlife, said project director Brian White.

“We included this as part of the purpose – to enhance wildlife connectivity and enhance the watershed,” White said.

In addition to three land bridges, numerous vehicle bridges that animals could walk underneath are proposed. And the project also would connect wetlands now divided by I-90.

More information about the Snoqualmie Pass project is available at www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/ I90/HyaktoKeechelusDam.

People wanting to learn more about and comment on the U.S. 95 project at McArthur Lake can attend an open house from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. July 18 at Naples Elementary School at the corner of Old U.S. 95 and Trail Creek Road.

Mud boils

It sounds almost apocalyptic – a mud boil in the street. Ick.

So when word went out last week that one lane of Alberta Street is going to be closed at Northwest Boulevard today so Spokane street crews can repair a mud boil, more investigation was required.

Turns out a mud boil is the street equivalent of a water bed. Water seeps through the alligator cracks in asphalt, and when it hits clay, the clay swells, oozing up into the asphalt and creating a slowly shifting surface.

Crews have to remove the clay and asphalt and replace it with new asphalt to fix the problem.

Fill ‘er up

High fuel prices may be keeping you from the gas station, but letting your tank drain to empty isn’t a good idea for your fuel pump.

Just as keeping your tank half full prevents winter freeze-ups, it can also save your fuel pump from overheating and damage in the summer months.

Ron Hamel, owner of Spokane Auto Care & Spokane Engine Sales, hasn’t seen an uptick in fuel pump problems but said the hot weather could be a problem for drivers who routinely leave their tanks hovering near empty.

“I tell my kids, ‘It’s just as easy to keep it half-to-full as it is half-to-empty,’” Hamel said.

Getting moving

This is the time of year when some of the road construction projects started earliest in the spring begin wrapping up. Good news for drivers.

On Spokane’s South Hill, 29th Avenue work is all but done and all lanes should be open to traffic.

Haven Street construction is finished in Hillyard and Peone Road construction is also complete.

Slow going

I-90

I-90 is reduced to two lanes in each direction between Division and Maple. Most nights it will be further reduced to one lane in each direction. The Monroe/Lincoln ramps are closed, as are the westbound Browne Street on-ramp and the eastbound Maple on-ramp and eastbound Division exit. The speed limit has been reduced to 45 mph. No changing lanes.

North Spokane

Rutter Parkway is closed from Highway 291 to Hope Lane. Flaggers will also be directing single-lane traffic most days on Highway 291 near Rutter Parkway and Charles Road. And the highway may be closed for up to 20 minutes at a time for blasting near Rutter Parkway. The highway is now gravel for about ¾-mile in this area.

Crack-sealing work will shut down one lane of Lidgerwood Street one block at a time between Wellesley and Rowan this week.

Crestline Street is closed from Lincoln Road to Francis Avenue. Lincoln Road is closed from Napa Street to Crestline. Detours are in place.

The Aubrey L. White Parkway is being chip-sealed today from the Spokane city limits north. Other roads in that vicinity will also be repaired today, including: Parkway Road, Kendrick Avenue, Johannsen Road and Seven Mile. Expect delays.

West Plains

Hayford Road is under construction from Highway 2 to Sprague Avenue. Only one lane of traffic is open in each direction.

County crews will chip-seal several roads this week. On Tuesday they will work on Tepee Road from Rambo to Craig and Rambo Road from Tepee to Gordon. Wednesday crews move on to Rambo Road from Gordon to Deno and from Highway 2 to Rambo’s south end, Hayford Road from Euclid to Deno and Deno Road near Hayford. Cheney-Spokane Road will be chip-sealed Thursday from the Spokane city limits to Gardner Road.

South Spokane

Highway 195 construction between Rosalia and Plaza may reduce traffic to one lane at times.

Bernard Street is closed from 14th-29th Avenue. Traffic is detoured to Grand and Lincoln streets.

Work on 37th Avenue closes it from Bernard Street to Grand Boulevard.

Freya Street reconstruction will close traffic to all but local access from Hartson and 11th Avenue and from 18th and 37th avenues. Detours are in place.

Regal Road is under construction from 57th to the Palouse Highway. Expect delays.

The Palouse Highway is closed between Valley Chapel Road and Dunn Road. Detours are in place.

Keeoy Bridge is closed east of Highway 195 through Friday.

Spokane sweeping

Crews will sweep in the northwest from Northwest Boulevard to Milton between Wellesley and Garland; in northeast Spokane in the area bounded by Fancher Way, Hatch, Trent/Parkwater and Second; and on the South side, in the area bounded by 29th Avenue, 53rd Avenue, Regal and Perry.

Please move cars off the streets.

For more information, call (509) 456-2666.

Spokane Valley

Broadway Avenue overlay work is under way between Bates Road and Sullivan Road. Expect lane restrictions.

Barker Road is closed from Boone to Euclid for road widening.

Idaho

Prairie Avenue remains under construction between Ramsey and Huetter.

The Government Way bridge in Coeur d’Alene is closed to traffic.

Construction on Lancaster Road between Government Way and Strahorn may cause delays.