Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Spokane airport to see major traffic improvements

Spokane International Airport is about to undergo major construction to realign and improve roads around the airport terminal.

The Spokane Airport Board has awarded a contract worth $1.7 million to William Winkler Co., of Newman Lake, to realign Flint Road and its two intersections with Airport Drive.

Work is expected to begin later this summer.

The reconstruction is needed to improve traffic safety, airport police Chief Pete Troyer said. The Flint Road intersection with the inbound leg of Airport Drive is not well aligned and needs reconstruction, Troyer said.

Part of the problem stems from the boulevard design of Flint Road on the north side of inbound Airport Drive. That segment has a median that does not align well with Airport Drive, he said.

Flint Road serves as the access road to the airport from U.S. Highway 2 to the north.

The project also will improve the pavement on Flint Road from the inbound leg of Airport Drive south to the outbound leg.

The new pavement will extend south to the airport car rental return entrance.

Inside the airport, Flint Road provides circulation for the shuttle parking lots and two motels.

In addition to Flint Road, the job calls for improvements to the free cellphone waiting lot along the inbound leg of Airport Drive just to the southwest of Flint Road.

HDR Engineering Inc., which has an office in Spokane, was hired to provide construction and project management services after designing the project. HDR’s total contract is $354,000, according to Airport Board records.

Freya to reopen at 37th

Work on 37th Avenue at Freya Street is reaching a crossroads.

On Monday, work to install an extension of the Hazel’s Creek stormwater facility will be completed, allowing for reopening of Freya afterward.

But 37th Avenue will remain closed from Freya to Custer streets where a new roadway is being installed.

Paving set at Third and Freya

Elsewhere in the city, a pavement repair job at Third Avenue and Freya is expected to create congestion with lane restrictions in place.

Flaggers and arrow boards will help direct traffic.

Section of Indiana closing

A new project on Indiana Avenue from Dakota to Perry streets will result in a full closure starting Monday.

Traffic on Hamilton and Perry streets will remain open through the intersections with Indiana.

MLK Way extension starts

In another new project, work begins Monday to extend Martin Luther King Jr. Way from Sherman to Erie streets.

Crews repave Hatch Road hill

On the Hatch Road hill south of 57th Avenue, a repaving job will limit traffic to alternating lanes of single-file vehicles.

The section at the top of the hill has been completed. Crews are moving to the middle part of the hill, to be followed by the lower segment nearest U.S. Highway 195.

Other Spokane roadwork

In other ongoing projects, work continues at Main Avenue and Division Street on intersection improvements.

Work on the Monroe Street hill from Fourth to Eighth avenues will involve curb installation on Monroe starting Monday. Landscape and sprinkler installations also start Monday.

Both Lincoln Street and Monroe remain closed on the hill.

In the downtown area, work on Lincoln and Monroe from Main to Second avenues continues with traffic restrictions and slowdowns.

Starting Monday, Lincoln will be controlled with four-way stop signs at Riverside, Sprague and First avenues. Monroe already has the stop signs at those intersections.

The revisions should remain in place for two weeks.

Also, Rowan Avenue remains closed from Driscoll Boulevard to Monroe Street for reconstruction.

Wall Street from Main Avenue to Spokane Falls Boulevard will close for paving, sidewalks and storm sewer work.

Highway restrictions

On Interstate 90, work is underway to build a new off-ramp for westbound traffic at Freya Street. Shoulders have been narrowed along the freeway. Lane restrictions are in place on Second Avenue where the exit will connect.

Also, overhead signs are being inspected from the airport interchange on U.S. Highway 2 eastward on I-90 to Argonne Road, which will cause shoulder and lane restrictions.

On U.S. 2 from Sunset Boulevard to I-90, guardrail improvements will affect traffic during evening and night hours.

Mount Spokane road closes

Elsewhere, lane closures will be in effect this week on U.S. 195 from Hatch to Excelsior roads for removal of encroaching trees.

At Mount Spokane, the state park road will be closed starting Monday for road rebuilding.

Hawthorne remains closed

Hawthorne Road from Waikiki Road to Division Street will remain closed until the end of August for repaving, stormwater improvements and landscaping.

Cochran Street between Dalton and Courtland avenues will be closed on Tuesday and Wednesday for sewer work.

Rock excavation for a stormwater tank at Bridge Avenue and Monroe wrapped up last week.

Snoqualmie delays

To the west, rock blasting for a multiyear widening project on I-90 east of Snoqualmie Pass will result in hourlong closures at 8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday.