Construction slowdowns snarl traffic across the region

The height of the summer travel season plus large road construction projects have merged into major headache for drivers this week across Eastern Washington and North Idaho.

Work to repair the westbound lanes of Interstate 90 near Division Street caused big slowdowns on Monday and Tuesday as drivers were forced to merge from three through lanes down to two.

“I-90 backups are terrible right now,” said Gerry Bozarth, a disaster recovery specialist for Spokane County Emergency Management.

He said emergency responders are dealing with the slowdowns as best they can and are hoping that no major incidents occur that would require evacuations.

Al Gilson, spokesman for the state Department of Transportation in Spokane, said he drove I-90 westbound on Monday morning.

“It was slow from Broadway (interchange) on and then it got worse and worse,” he said.

The backups caused more drivers to switch to alternate routes, including Trent Avenue.

The westbound work is expected to continue through about July 18.

Part of the traffic jams are caused by heavier driving during summer as people take vacations. I-90 turns into a heavy travel corridor every day this time of year. Also, an improved economy puts more people on the road.

The eastbound backup on I-90 that occurs regularly through Spokane this time of year led to several hours of stop-and-go traffic on Monday afternoon

Washington State Patrol Trooper Jeff Sevigney said that drivers need to slow down and be patient.

“Drivers have to be more aware,” Sevigney said.

Traffic slowdowns and congestion can lead to accidents. Two were reported on I-90 Tuesday morning.

Troopers will be patroling construction zones as part of their routine duties, he said. There are no troopers in the Spokane region assigned to any construction zones, a practice that is being used increasingly in the Puget Sound region, Sevigney said.

However, I-90 during the morning commute is a priority for enforcement, he said.

Here are some of the biggest traffic hotspots around the region:

• Paving to repair I-90 from Fishtrap to Sprague west of Spokane is underway this week.
• Slowdowns are occurring on I-90 between Cle Elum and North Bend due to several projects. The freeway will close at 7 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday for an hour east of Snoqualmie Pass for rock blasting on a major widening project.
• New sidewalks and curbs are being installed on Division north of Francis to the Wye, causing daytime lane reductions and backups.
• The county has closed Monroe north of Francis, sending that traffic to other arterials. Francis Avenue has been seeing backups in both directions.
• New sidewalks are going in along Division and Browne streets in the downtown area. Lane closures and temporary traffic signals are in place. Short backups are common.
• Crews have returned to Monroe and Lincoln streets from Main to Second avenues downtown to finish a major reconstruction project that bottled up that part of the city a year ago. Backups are occurring at times, especially during the afternoon commute period.
• North Idaho has a detour on I-90 from 9th Street to Sherman Avenue in Coeur d’Alene for repaving in the eastbound lanes. The 15th Street ramps are closed this week. “This project will resurface I-90, increase height clearances … and improve traveler safety with new guardrail, signs, and illumination,” officials said on the project website at 511.idaho.gov/.
• Also, I-90 is down to one lane in each direction from Mullan to the Montana state line.
• Seltice Way from Riverstone Drive in Coeur d’Alene to Huetter Road is being rebuilt with two roundabouts at Grand Mill Drive and Atlas Road. Lanes are restricted.
• Government Way is down to one lane in each direction through mid-autumn for reconstruction from Hanley Way to Prairie Avenue.