Sprague project nears an end

A large project to fix Sprague Avenue’s aging pavement through Spokane Valley is virtually finished with striping of the newly smoothed lanes. Workers from a Spokane company, working by hand, pushed an extruder over the new blacktop to lay a polymer filled with glass beads for the new lane lines. Nearly $6 million has been spent to rebuild three of the largest intersections and to resurface Sprague from Evergreen to University roads. “It’s very smooth sailing,” Carolbelle Branch, spokeswoman for the city, said of the new surface. Prior to the work, she said, “The ruts along Sprague were quite deep, especially across the Pines Road and Sprague intersection. It was really bumpy.” Sprague and Pines was one of three intersections to get new concrete pavement along with Evergreen and McDonald roads. Half of the project at Sprague and Pines was done in 2008. Steve Adams, owner of Sharp-Line Industries of Spokane, said his company is using a highly durable polymer made from methyl methacrylate for the new lane markers. The chemical is mixed at the work site with benzoyl peroxide in plasticizer to create the polymer. The mix includes glass beads to increase visibility at night, Adams said. Even with heavy traffic, Adams said he expects the lane markers to last four or five years. Methyl methacrylate is durable against snow plows and studded tires. “It will stand up to studs better than both products,” he said. Adams said the lane marker material is now used widely in the region, including Interstate 90, where the polymer is laid into a sawn groove to keep the marker below the plane of the pavement and to protect it from fast-moving snowplow blades. Among its advantages is a capacity to bond with later paint applications. // An improvement project on Fourth Street in Coeur d’Alene is now in its third and final phase between Miller and Harrison avenues. Work on asphalt, stormwater lines, curbs, gutters, sidewalks and wiring is under way. The project will include light poles, street trees and public art. It is part of an effort to create a blend of art, shops, restaurants and residences in a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood north of downtown. A ribbon cutting on Oct. 22 is expected following completion. Details of the event were not given. // For the seventh year, Idaho State Police will hold two free road safe classes on Oct. 24 at 9 a.m. and Nov. 7 at noon at the police agency’s regional office at 615 W. Wilbur Ave. The class will teach winter driving skills, including preparedness, as well as instruction on how to avoid aggressive and intoxicated drivers or other potential driving hazards. The class lasts for nearly three hours. To save a space in the class, call (208) 209-8620 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. // With campaign season in high gear, the Washington Department of Transportation sent out a reminder to candidates and their supporters last week not to post campaign signs within the state highway right-of-way. Only traffic control signs are allowed there, and state highway maintenance crews will remove signs placed within the right-of-way, said Al Gilson, DOT spokesman. // Spokane city street crews have been repairing Boone Avenue from Monroe to Maple streets during business hours, which could result in closures or delays. It could also affect parking in the busy area near the Spokane Transit Authority headquarters and county Courthouse. In addition, Third Avenue from Freya to Havana streets; Trent Avenue from Freya east to Mission Avenue; and Myrtle Street from Trent to Mission are closed with local access only for sewer line work. // Resurfacing of U.S. Highway 395 from Loon Lake to Immel Road north of Chewelah was expected to be completed last Friday allowing traffic to return to normal without the delays that have slowed travel along the corridor since mid-summer. // Construction work on Bigelow Gulch Road from Havana Street to Palmer Road continues with the possibility that traffic could be reduced to one lane. Motorists are asked to watch for flaggers. Also in the county, Electric Avenue from Geiger Boulevard to Thomas Mallen Road is closed for utility work. Freya Street from 57th to 61st avenues is closed for sidewalk work.