Residents Ask County To Pave Hazard Road

Some neighbors say Hazard Road in the Dartford area truly takes after its name.

The unpaved road has a steep switchback, washboarded surface and deep ruts in the winter.

They want it paved and a guardrail installed at a cost of $174,000, to be shared by property owners in the area through a county road improvement district.

But other neighbors said they fear speeding vehicles will come rushing down a smoothened Hazard Road and endanger the children who play near Rivilla Lane.

The two sides squared off at a hearing Aug. 20 before the Spokane County commissioners.

Commissioner John Roskelley said he wanted to visit the area before making a decision on his vote, so the commissioners postponed action until Sept. 10.

Fifty-three separate parcels are included in the proposed RID. But 22 of the property owners did not sign the petition for the road district.

However, owners representing 84 percent of the acreage in the district signed the road district petition, putting the issue before the commissioners.

The county would pave Hazard Road from Rivilla to Schaefer Road at a width of 24 feet and install a guardrail along the steep section.

Proponents said the road not only is dangerous, but it reduces property values because it generates dust during dry weather.

Opponents said they fear that some drivers will be going 50 mph through their neighborhood if the road is paved.

The cost to each property owner would be $2,000 per lot, plus a charge of $4 per foot of frontage for those owners whose property abuts the section to be paved. The highest assessment in the district would be $8,900.

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