Concrete paving will close Sullivan Road at I-90

Spokane Valley soon will suffer its own version of the Interstate 90 viaduct project in downtown Spokane.

Work on the Sullivan Road concrete paving next week at I-90 will clamp down on a vital Valley transportation artery for three weeks.

“The important thing that people need to think about is that Sullivan will be completely closed between Mission and Indiana. Use the Evergreen interchange,” said Al Gilson, spokesman for the Washington State Department of Transportation.

The $1.8 million state project will resurface Sullivan with concrete.

Starting July 9, drivers will not be able to enter or exit Interstate 90 from Sullivan Road. They won’t be able to cross the freeway via Sullivan.

All Sullivan Road businesses on either side of the freeway will be accessible. Just don’t plan on a quick trip from Wal-Mart on the south side of I-90 over to Krispy Creme on the north side.

Drivers will need to use Evergreen Road to cross the freeway.

Before you start complaining about the full closure of Sullivan, keep two points in mind:

Had crews attempted to keep some lanes open with alternating traffic, the project would have taken four months instead of three weeks, Gilson said.

And, traffic models showed backups as far as 24th Avenue on the south and Spokane Industrial Park on the north.

“The decision was made to get in and get out,” said Gilson.

Watch the speed limit

Repair work has been under way for some time on northbound U.S. Highway 195 between Spangle and Hatch Road.

There is one new feature, however – a 45 mph speed limit where crews are working.

Stay alert.

Getting There is a bit bitter

If you’re one of those people who can’t take a “long weekend” (I thought that was three, maybe four days) for the 4th of July holiday, you’ll have plenty of people to envy.

AAA predicted more people would travel 50 or more miles this year for the holiday than in 2006 even though it falls on Wednesday.

About 41.1 million Americans are projected to take trips between June 29 and July 8. Most – 34.7 million – will travel by car.

Those stuck at home can get some satisfaction imagining all the traffic.

But it’s still North Dakota

According to conservative think tank the Reason Foundation, North Dakota has the nation’s best roads based on 2005 traffic congestion, traffic fatalities and road condition.

Idaho ranked 10th, Washington 32nd.

Idaho did particularly well when it came to the condition of rural roads.

New Jersey ranked dead last.

Division, Hastings project

A Washington State Department of Transportation project to resurface the intersection of Division Street and Hastings Road may cause drivers serious headaches starting Friday.

At that time traffic will be reconfigured in a variety of ways as crews work in various parts of the intersection. Some will be rerouted as lanes and portions of streets are closed. Expect delays.

The $1 million project will last about two months.

Child seat confusion?

AAA is offering free child seat safety inspections at its downtown Spokane location.

Sign up by calling (509) 358-6942.

Slow going

I-90

I-90 has been reduced to two lanes in each direction in downtown Spokane for the viaduct repair project. Speed limits are reduced.

The only downtown exits remaining open are eastbound Maple/Walnut, eastbound Division (for southbound traffic only), eastbound Hamilton, westbound Second Avenue, westbound Hamilton and westbound Division.

On-ramps remaining open are eastbound Browne, eastbound Hamilton and westbound Maple.

In Idaho, I-90 is reduced to one lane in each direction from near Mullan Road to Exit 22 at U.S. Highway 97 as crews work on the Blue Creek Bay bridges.

North Spokane

Ash Street is closed from Francis Avenue to Northwest Boulevard.

Liberty Avenue is closed from Madelia Street to Pittsburg Street, and Pittsburg is closed from North Foothills Drive to Bridgeport Avenue for repaving.

Mill Road is closed from near Fairwood Road to Dartford Drive for sewer work.

Washington Street is restricted from Shannon Avenue to Buckeye and from Boone to Indiana.

Sharp/Sinto Avenue is closed from Haven Street to Fiske Street. Fiske paving is under way between Boone and Mission avenues.

South Spokane

Detours are in place for a closure on 29th Avenue from Havana to Glenrose.

Northbound U.S. Highway 195 is reduced to one lane in several places between Spangle and Hatch Road.

Southeast Boulevard is closed from Perry Street to Third Avenue.

Spokane Valley

Upriver Drive is closed from near Boulder Beach to a few blocks west of Argonne Road. The Centennial Trail is closed along the same stretch.

Highway 27 is reduced to single-lane traffic near 46th Avenue from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Idaho

Highway 95 work north of Worley will cause delays between Setters Road and Bellgrove Road as flaggers direct traffic.