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

Base layer of pavement should be ready for downtown Spokane traffic by year’s end

Lincoln and Monroe streets in downtown Spokane will have a base layer of blacktop by the end of the year – as long as there’s no snowfall.

Kyle Twohig, the city of Spokane’s engineering operations manager, told the City Council on Monday evening that the utilities would be in place and the road would be at least partially paved before winter.

The top layers of pavement will have to be put atop the busy streets later – possibly next year, continuing a complex $3.1 million construction project that has snarled downtown traffic and hurt businesses.

Twohig used the meeting to urge residents to go downtown to shop and dine. He said the city is going to take steps to make sidewalks and streets safer for pedestrians negotiating the construction work.

The closure of Lincoln Street on Monday almost leaked into rush hour because of unexpected concrete in intersections. Also, paving work had to be scrapped Saturday because of the rainy weather.

Crews caught up Monday afternoon.

There will be free parking in the downtown construction areas from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. starting Tuesday and lasting for a couple of weeks to encourage people to visit shops and restaurants.