The going just got tougher
This is it – the day work begins in earnest on the Interstate 90 viaduct in downtown Spokane.
Are you prepared?
The freeway is reduced to two lanes in each direction between Division and Maple and the speed limit down to 45 mph. The Lincoln/Monroe ramps are closed, as are the eastbound Maple on-ramp and Division exit and the westbound Browne on-ramp.
If you’re trying to pick an alternate way to work, here’s a little information to chew on with your morning toast. Of intersections with Division at Second Avenue, Sprague Avenue and Spokane Falls Boulevard, Spokane Falls Boulevard gets the fewest number (8,300 per day) of cars on average, Second gets the most (15,200), and Sprague gets 10,000.
Of course, those numbers are likely to change dramatically with construction, but it gives you an idea of which streets are busiest now.
For more information about the I-90 project, log onto www.spokesmanreview.com or www.downtownfreewayfix.net.
Click it …
The end of that phrase depends on where you’re driving.
In Idaho, it’s a warning – “Don’t risk it.” In Washington, a threat – “Or ticket.”
Either way, buckling up is for your own safety. Both the Washington State Patrol and Post Falls Police Department are going to be working hard to make sure you do.
The WSP emphasis begins today and runs through June 3. Not wearing a seat belt in Washington is a primary offense, meaning you can be pulled over for that alone. Today just 2 to 5 percent of Washington drivers fail to comply and risk getting a $101 ticket.
Idaho’s usage rate is far lower, with about 24 percent of people not buckling up. But it’s only a secondary offense in Idaho, meaning an officer can only ticket you ($10-$69) if you’re pulled over for something else.
Travel surprises
Vacationers planning road trips this summer better take those online maps with a grain of salt.
Neither MapQuest.com, nor Google’s driving directions incorporate road construction project information. So that 7.5-hour trip could take longer or even end up following a slightly different route. Representatives from both companies said it’s something they’d like to fix in the future.
AAA members are a little better off, because the automobile club routinely checks with state transportation departments when making up “Trip-Tiks.” Their maps show where construction is under way, but don’t get specific enough to note closed interstate exits or detours.
For the best information, check state transportation departments’ Web sites before you pack the car for that trip to Sonoma County.
Visitor pit stop
People with small bladders rejoice.
The I-90 rest area just west of the Idaho state line has reopened.
It now serves as a visitor information center, Centennial Trail trailhead and rest stop.
Fair warning
Both the Washington State Patrol and the Spokane Police Department will be focusing their traffic enforcement efforts this week on the I-90 viaduct construction area.
Troopers will be patrolling the interstate, looking for speeding violations (unlikely) as well as following too closely and illegal lane changes. Lane changes aren’t allowed in the construction area.
Spokane police will be watching the city streets near the viaduct project, where traffic is likely to become congested. They’ll be looking for people running red lights, speeding, blocking intersections and just doing dumb, mean, illegal things because of road rage.
Be good.
Slow going
Growing numbers of projects make it impossible to list all of them in the print edition of this newspaper. So, until the end of the construction season, “Getting There” will list the largest construction projects and new projects in the paper. Ongoing project information still is available at www.spokesmanreview.com/ blogs/gettingthere.
I-90
Work on I-90 between Argonne and Sullivan may require some lane closures this week.
North Spokane
Rutter Parkway is closed from Highway 291 to Hope Lane starting Wednesday. The closure will last until late June.
Crestline Street is closed from Lincoln Road to Francis Avenue. Lincoln Road is closed from Napa Street to Crestline. Detours are in place.
Monroe Street may be obstructed between Wellesley and Francis as the road is patched.
Haven Street is closed in Hillyard from southbound Market to northbound Market.
And way north, starting Tuesday construction on Highway 31 near the Canadian border may cause delays of up to 20 minutes north of Metaline Falls.
South Spokane
A water main installation project on Highway 195 will restrict Meadow Lane Road to one lane from the highway to Eagle Ridge Drive this week.
Work to rehabilitate 29th Avenue between Southeast Boulevard and Grand Boulevard has reduced traffic to one lane in each direction, and drivers are unable to enter or exit Perry at 29th. Detours are in place.
Regal Road is under construction from 57th to the Palouse Highway. Expect delays.
Spokane sweeping
Crews will sweep in northwest Spokane in the area bounded by Monroe Street, Division Street, Wellesley Avenue and Gray Court. On the South Hill, crews will tackle the area bounded by 14th Avenue, 29th Avenue, Grand Boulevard and Lincoln Street, and the area bounded by Fifth Avenue, Rockwood Boulevard, Southeast Boulevard and Cowley.
Please move cars off the streets. For more information, call (509) 456-2666.
Spokane Valley
Barker Road is closed from Boone to Euclid for road widening.
Valleyway is closed to all but local traffic during the day between Conklin and Sullivan.