Getting There: 6 big transportation projects Spokane Valley plans to finish in 2019
Spokane Valley’s large transportation projects for 2019 include new sidewalks, the addition of a turn lane and creation of a new road.
The city is adding a turn lane to Barker Road and installing sewer from Euclid Avenue north to the BNSF rail tracks to improve the corridor, which serves a growing amount of traffic. The total project cost is $3.4 million, funded by city and state grants.
Barker Road, a significant route for freight and local traffic, connects Trent Avenue to Interstate 90 and also feeds into the proposed $19 million railroad bridge over Barker Road that will replace a railroad crossing near Trent Avenue. The project also includes a roundabout 200 feet north of the Trent Avenue and Barker Road intersection.
Spokane Valley is constructing Garland Avenue, a one-mile road, from Flora to Barker roads. The road, with three traffic lanes, will serve as a detour route during construction of the Barker Road grade separation project.
Spokane Valley Deputy City Manager John Hohman said there were concerns from Spokane Valley legislators and businesses about traffic and construction impacts from the railroad bridge project.
“The construction of Garland Avenue is that mitigation. It would route people in a more efficient manner,” said Hohman at a January City Council meeting.
Construction is estimated to begin in the summer on Garland Avenue. The $3 million cost will be split between the city and Centennial Properties, a subsidiary of Cowles Co., which also owns The Spokesman-Review. Centennial Properties owns a large portion of land near the future site of Garland Avenue.
The city plans to expand Barker Road to three lanes south from Euclid Avenue to the Spokane River by 2021.
Argonne Road
Street preservation work for two sections of Argonne Road will begin in mid-April. That includes asphalt overlay from Broadway to Mission Avenues, rebuilding ramps and repairing broken sections of sidewalk on both sides of the road.
Argonne Road preservation work will continue south between a two-block section of Broadway and Valleyway avenues. Argonne Road will be reduced to a single lane during the day due to construction.
When both preservation projects are complete, Argonne Road from Sprague Avenue to I-90 “will be in pretty good shape,” said Gloria Mantz, development engineer for Spokane Valley.
University Road
The city is spending $3.2 million to improve University Road from 16th Avenue to Dishman Mica Road. In addition to repairing cracks, the city is adding curb ramps and bike lanes in each direction.
The project, funded by a grant and the city, calls for traffic signal upgrades at the intersections of Dishman Mica Road, and 16th and 32nd avenues. A portion of University Road will be closed for three months, beginning in mid-June. Residents will be notified in advance of temporary driveway closures.
Mission Avenue
Road preservation work on a section of Mission Avenue from University to Union roads is expected to be underway in mid-August. The $2.1 million project will repair asphalt, and add sidewalks on the north side of Mission Avenue and replace curb ramps to meet requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Evergreen Road
Upgrades will be underway this summer for Evergreen Road between Indiana and Mission avenues that include new bike lanes to provide a safe route for bicyclists crossing I-90, asphalt repair and the replacement of four ADA ramps at the Mission Avenue connector as well as two at the westbound freeway off ramp.
The Mission connector will be closed throughout the project and Evergreen Road will be reduced to single lanes for curb ramp work with 12-hour closures in the evening. Traffic on I-90 will be diverted to Pines and Sullivan roads. Construction will begin in June and conclude at the end of the month.
Sidewalk projects
In an effort to improve safe routes to school, the city is constructing sidewalks on one side of Wellesley Avenue between McDonald and Evergreen roads as well as on Wilbur Road, between Broadway and Boone Avenue. Construction is estimated to begin in mid-May for Wilbur Road. Wellesley Avenue improvements will occur in the summer.
A third project on Knox Avenue will widen the pavement, install sidewalk and curbs on one side of the road from Hutchinson Road to Sargent Road. Construction will begin mid-May.