Getting There: Intersection changes coming to U.S. 195
How to make intersections safer on U.S. Highway 195 – the Pullman highway – in southwest Spokane is the topic of a public meeting Sept. 7. State transportation engineers will go over potential changes at the open house.
The design concepts involve new turn channels, said Al Gilson, a spokesman for the state Department of Transportation.
Gilson said the changes would be a low-cost alternative to a longer-range plan to build more interchanges along the busy stretch of highway through the Hangman Creek valley.
The idea is to reduce the number of accidents occurring at intersections, he said.
Displays will show the proposed changes, and transportation staff members will answer questions.
A more complete system of interchanges and access approaches is stalled in the state budgeting process for highways, Gilson said.
The meeting will be 4-7 p.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 5810 S. Meadowlane Road.
Antique train stock move underway
On Friday, the antique rolling stock from the former rail museum at the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center moved through Spokane on its way to a new home at the Inland Northwest Rail Museum just west of Reardan.
A BNSF Railway crew hauled the passenger coaches, historic steam locomotive and other railroad stock to Cheney, where another crew was set to move the stock to the site in Reardan along a state-owned short line.
The museum is open Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Oct. 30. Admission is $8.
25th Avenue closed
In Spokane, work to rebuild 25th Avenue at Southeast Boulevard will result in a street closure through Sept. 16.
The entrance to Rockwood Retirement will be off Ray Street at 23rd Court during construction.
Elsewhere, work on the new Ben Burr Trail extensions will result in lane closures on Second and Third avenues this week.
Lyons Avenue has lane closures from Pittsburg to Perry streets for repaving.
Lincoln Street from Fourth to Eighth avenues remains closed for construction.
Construction work on Lincoln and Monroe in the downtown area is continuing. Drivers must use four-way stops at several intersections during construction.
Construction at the former Macy’s building downtown has resulted in reduced street parking on Main Avenue and Howard and Wall streets.
In Spokane Valley
In Spokane Valley, Park Road between Nora and Mission avenues and Sprague Avenue from Park to Vista roads have narrowed lanes for construction.
Southbound traffic on Sullivan Road at the new bridge over the Spokane River will have lane restrictions on Monday.
McDonald Road from Mission to Sprague avenues will remain a one-lane road for one more week.
Around the county
In Spokane County, bridge work on Seven Mile Road has resulted in a bypass route and lower speed limit.
Hawthorne Road west of Division Street continues to have lane restrictions during construction.
Repaving on Argonne Road continues to cause lane reductions and delays.
Hatch Road from Colbert to Burk roads is closed through Thursday for construction.
Highway restrictions
On Interstate 90, sweeping work may result in lane closures this week from Argonne Road to U.S. Highway 2.
The Trent Avenue bridge east of Hamilton Street will be limited to one lane in each direction during daytime hours for a bridge inspection.
To the southwest, I-90 continues to have a detour so that crews can rebuild the westbound bridge over the BNSF Railway mainline at Sprague Lake. Slowdowns are likely.
Chip sealing work may cause delays on U.S. Highway 2 in the Diamond Lake area.
Intersection work on U.S. Highway 395 and U.S. 2 north of Colbert may cause lane restrictions.
New road signs are being installed on state Highway 27 from Oakesdale to Fairfield, which may cause delays for alternating single-file traffic.
The road at Steptoe Butte State Park is going to close for paving work through Thursday.