Changes Expected To Ease Mall-Sullivan Road Traffic
Two traffic revisions recently introduced near Sullivan Road and Interstate 90 are necessary to accommodate traffic expected to inundate the area when the Spokane Valley Mall opens later this summer, transportation officials said.
Signs indicating an eastbound speed limit increase and a westbound decrease on Interstate 90 were moved about a half-mile east to the Sullivan Road overpass.
Westbound motorists are now required to slow to 60 mph at the overpass, where the speed limit changes to 70 for drivers headed east. Previously, drivers met the change in speed limit near the west end of the mall.
And, on Sullivan Road just north of I-90, engineers turned on newly installed traffic signal lights at the intersection of Sullivan and Indiana Avenue. Although Indiana is paved and striped, county engineers do not plan to open it to through traffic until mid-July, said Chad Hutson, county public works spokesman.
Heavy construction traffic and clean-up work planned along the road are the reasons for the wait, Hutson said.
Both traffic revisions are in anticipation of the mall’s August 13 opening, and in reaction to the retail business boom along Sullivan Road, transportation and police officials said.
More than 1 million square feet of retail space is due to open within the next year in the area surrounding Sullivan Road and I-90, with the 750,000-square foot mall leading the way. Other major retailers expected to open stores in the area include Circuit City electronics store, sporting goods giant Gart Sports, the Barnes and Noble book store chain, Staples office supplies, and toy industry leader Toys ‘R’ Us.
A 12-screen movie theater is being built next to the mall by ACT III, and restaurant space also is planned.
Wal-Mart, the nation’s largest retail chain, opened the doors of its Valley store in June south of I-90 near Sullivan Road and Broadway Avenue.
Expecting a surge in traffic once the Spokane Valley Mall opens, the Washington State Patrol recommended to transportation officials that they move the I-90 speed limit signs to allow “a smoother, safer transition as you enter the freeway,” said Washington State Patrol Sgt. Chris Powell.
Troopers did not note any problems with the previous placement of the speed limit signs, but believe the new configuration will allow motorists to enter the freeway easier and safer in heavy traffic, Powell said.
State transportation officials increased the speed limit last year on the Valley’s portion of I-90 to 60 mph from the city limits to east of the Pines interchange, where it moved to 70 to the state line. The speed limit change was part of 700 miles of interstate highway increases statewide.
Al Gilson, DOT spokesman, said moving signs is not uncommon following a speed limit change.
“Whenever we do any kind of a speed change we take a look at it to see how traffic moves,” Gilson said.
, DataTimes