Torn-up Spokane streets blamed for several falls

Streets and sidewalks are torn up in the Spokane’s city center, and pedestrians are falling.

In response, the city of Spokane is adding emergency generator-powered lighting to six intersections.

It’s one of several steps ordered by City Hall to help ease the problems caused by a huge construction project on Monroe and Lincoln streets, from Main to Second avenues.

The city is also assigning a street department worker to monitor and make temporary repairs to hazards on sidewalks and at pedestrian crossings.

Also, businesses in the construction zone will get vouchers for customers to use for free parking at meters.

The new initiatives were announced Thursday during a weekly construction meeting that’s open to members of the public.

During the meeting, a safety officer for Cowles Co., publisher of The Spokesman-Review, said that at least three employees had reported falling in the construction area.

At least one of those employees fell while leaving work after dark, at a sidewalk where the streetlight had been removed.

Mayor David Condon met with representatives of downtown businesses Wednesday. After the meeting, the city decided to take action on lighting, walkways and customer parking vouchers, according to Julie Happy, city spokeswoman.

Work on the multilayered project has been slowed by the underground web of utilities, which are being updated.

Sprague Avenue at Lincoln has been closed for three days this week for storm sewer work.

On Monday, Lincoln will be closed at First Avenue from 7-11 a.m. and First will be closed from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

On Saturday, crews will be paving the east sides of Lincoln and Monroe from Sprague to Second from 7 a.m. to dark.

The paving will resume on Sept. 28.

Officials said the project, which involves refitting utilities, street lighting and traffic lights, is in a critical phase. They said they hope to get work finished by the time cold weather sets in, probably in mid-November.

Elsewhere, a new traffic signal at Division Street and Main Avenue has been activated following a monthslong project to rebuild the intersection and make it safer for pedestrians.

Work has started on a new angle-in parking and street amenities on Main from Bernard to Pine streets.

Over the weekend, Hamilton Street will be closed at Indiana Avenue for street reconstruction. Detours will be in place.