Completion of downtown paving project expected in coming weeks

When cold weather hit last fall, workers still had not completed reconstruction of Monroe and Lincoln streets in the downtown area.

Officials said completion of the streets from Main to Second avenues would be delayed until the 2017 construction season.

Avista crews have already started utility work, which will continue for another week to week-and-a-half on the west side of both streets.

Manhole covers are being adjusted and damaged concrete from last winter’s plowing will be repaired.

Then during a shift from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m., the west side of both streets will get the final 2-inch layer of asphalt pavement.

After that is done later this month, work will be repeated on the east side before a second night paving shift arrives to complete the project. The last steps will be installing new markers.

City officials said last week that the work schedule should have a minimal effect on businesses. Last year’s work led to people staying out of downtown and not patronizing the shops, theaters, restaurants and tasting rooms that depend on traffic.

“We are trying to limit the business impacts and impacts to the traveling public,” said Marlene Feist, city spokeswoman.

To the north, street closures are planned next to a sewer overflow tank being installed between Monroe and Lincoln streets at Summit Parkway.

Crews will be making pipe connections.

Lincoln will be closed starting July 17 for about two weeks from Bridge Avenue to Broadway Avenue.

On July 31, Monroe will be closed for about two weeks for the same reason. The Monroe closure promises to be more of a problem for traffic.

At the south end of the Monroe Street Bridge, another pipe connection for a sewage holding tank will occur at about the same time as night paving of Lincoln and Monroe downtown.

Because of the construction downtown, the city has marked a number of meters with tags giving drivers two hours of free parking on Sprague and First avenues from Post to Monroe.

More than two dozen meters offer the free parking and are designated by blue tags.

Feist said it’s one way the city can help ease inconvenience and help businesses survive construction.

Division Street repaving

Repaving of Division Street from Francis Avenue to the Division ‘Y’ will have lane restrictions starting Monday.

Northbound lanes will be affected from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. and southbound lanes will be affected from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Around the city

Elsewhere in the city, 37th Avenue continues to be closed between Regal and Ray streets for construction.

Lane restrictions and closures remain in effect on Adams Street and First and Sprague avenues for a sewer tank project.

Barnes Road is closed from Strong Road to Phoebe Street for a water line installation and paving.

Phase three of installing a downtown bicycle network is underway.

Lanes are still closed for sidewalk reconstruction on Division and Browne streets from Spokane Falls Boulevard to Third Avenue.

The extension of Martin Luther King Jr. Way is open to pedestrians and bicycle riders from Sherman to Erie streets. The city’s lawsuit to acquire eminent domain for the Erie Street connection is scheduled for October. After the land is acquired, the city will complete the street project.

Sidewalk closures remain in place on the south side of Riverfront Park during construction.

Sprague Avenue from Helena to Stone streets remains closed to through traffic, but access to businesses is maintained from detours on Riverside and First avenues.

Expect I-90 slowdowns

On Interstate 90, construction has started in the westbound lanes, forcing a reduction to two lanes through the middle of the month.

Repaving is underway on I-90 from Fishtrap to Sprague with lane reductions.

To the west, blasting for widening of I-90 near Snoqualmie Pass will resume on Monday through Wednesday at 7 p.m., forcing closure of the freeway for about an hour each night.

Other I-90 slowdowns and delays are expected through Central Washington to North Bend.

State highways

On rural state highways, work is underway on Highway 31 at Tiger; Highway 270 in Whitman County; Highway 271 from Oakesdale to Rosalia; Highway 272 from Colfax to the Idaho border; Highway 291 at Suncrest; and Highway 904 from Betz to Mullenix roads.

Spokane County

In Spokane County, major projects on Market Street north of Francis Avenue and Monroe and Wall streets also north of Francis are causing lane reductions and closures.

Coeur d’Alene

In Coeur d’Alene, a chip sealing job to preserve streets is planned to start on Tuesday.

The Foothills and Best Hill Meadows subdivisions along with Government Way from Harrison Avenue to I-90 are getting the new coatings.

Also in Coeur d’Alene, I-90 ramps eastbound at 15th Street will close this week for reconstruction as part of a major freeway project there.

In the Valley

In Spokane Valley, new sidewalks are going in on Ninth Avenue from Raymond to University roads, forcing a street closure.

Another sidewalk project is forcing closure of 12th Avenue from Bowdish to Wilbur roads.

Also, Bowdish from Eighth to 12th avenues is getting new sidewalks, causing a closure there.

Lane closures are expected on Pines and McDonald roads for construction of the Appleway Trail extension.

Flora Road from Euclid to Dalton avenues is also seeing intermittent closures for a sewer and street project.

The intersection of Sullivan Road and Euclid is being rebuilt with concrete pavement, resulting in lane restrictions and detours.

Skipworth Road from 23rd to 27th avenues is closed for utility work, but that job should wrap up this week.