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

Spokane Valley officials consider traffic measures on East 22nd Avenue

Spokane Valley officials are considering a plan to implement radar speed signs and truck restrictions on a segment of 22nd Avenue near the site of a proposed single family development.

The development – which will be south of the Spokane Valley Good Samaritan Village at 17121 E. Eighth Ave. – has the potential to add to already increasing traffic in the neighborhood, according to city documents.

Summit Properties Inc. filed an application with the city last year to develop a subdivision to be called The Vistas at Belleaire – that will contain 226 lots on more than 81 acres.

Residents living near 22nd Avenue called and emailed city staff, citing the two-lane road is not suited to handle an increase in traffic caused by the new development. They also cited concerns about safety, lack of sidewalks and construction trucks using the residential road as an alternate route when traveling from 32nd Avenue and Saltese Road.

The area of the city known as Ridgemont Estates was developed in the mid 1970s. Spokane County in 2013 expanded its urban growth area east and south of Ridgemont Estates. The surge in housing demand in the area over the past few years has led to increased development that has increased traffic in existing neighborhoods.

The city conducted a traffic study on a segment of 22nd between Vera Crest Drive and Conklin Road. The study indicated there were more than 1,300 cars traveling along that segment daily, and the new development would increase traffic by 20 percent.

Spokane Valley Senior Traffic Engineer Ray Wright said the county placed limits restricting trucks on their roads.

“And what is occurring, especially in the winter and the spring, is that because they can’t use the county road for all the development that’s going on in the county, they are using 22nd (Avenue),” he said.

Spokane Valley Engineer Bill Helbig said the road is failing as a result of construction trucks using it as an alternate route, so placing a restriction on truck traffic is warranted.

The restrictions would not apply to delivery or local trucks, he said.

Residents at a meeting with the city suggested radar speed signs, stop-control intersections, speed bumps, sidewalks and restricted access to the area.

Councilman Ben Wick suggested the city pursue a truck restriction along 22nd, but also to collaborate with the county to encourage improvement on their streets to reduce restrictions on arterial roads.

“I kind of feel like we should be able to protect our road of 22nd (Avenue) from the residential side of things,” he said. “And the county will have to understand if you expand the urban growth area and purposely enable the development, you have to have a plan to take care of your road and be able to allow the trucks that need to go in there, too.”

The City Council will vote on the truck restriction at the July 10 council meeting.