Highway projects underway across region

A series of state highway projects may put a pinch on traffic in coming days.

Eastbound lanes of Interstate 90 will have nighttime and early morning lane restrictions starting Sunday so crews can repair concrete pavement and bridge joints.

The closures could involve both the left and center lanes eastbound from Division Street to Sunset Hill. The restrictions will be in place from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.

Division and Ruby streets, which double as U.S. Highways 2 and 395, will see lane restrictions starting today from North River Drive to Euclid Avenue.

Crews are upgrading the handicap ramps at intersections and will need to close the adjacent curb lanes, state officials said. The work is scheduled to continue to Aug. 11.

Farther north, crews will work evenings and early mornings through Wednesday to repair ruts caused by studded tires on Division north of Francis Avenue. The work hours will be from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. Drivers should expect slow traffic and lane closures. The work extends to Farwell Road on the Newport Highway.

After the job ends north of Francis, the crew will move north to patch pavement on U.S. 2 from Deer Road to Westwood Road.

Other state highway projects are continuing, including work to repair southbound concrete panels on U.S. Highway 195 from I-90 to Excelsior Road. Lane restrictions will be in place around the clock because of the need to cure new concrete.

On Saturday and Sunday, the intersection of Trent Avenue and Hamilton Street will have lane restrictions because of installation of handicap sidewalk ramps.

A paving project on Trent from Sullivan Road to the Idaho state line will cause evening traffic restrictions from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. the next morning starting tonight. Traffic will have to follow pilot cars in alternating lines. That project extends onto Sullivan Road.

To the south, work is continuing on U.S. 195 from Plaza to Cornwall Road for repaving. Traffic will be allowed in alternating lines behind pilot vehicles.

Spokane streets rated poor

TRIP, a national traffic research group, has rated Spokane’s streets as the eighth-bumpiest nationwide for cities with populations of 250,000 to 500,000.

The report said 44 percent of Spokane streets need repair.

Flint, Michigan, topped the list with 54 percent of streets needing work.

Among large cities, San Francisco and Oakland ranked No. 1 with 74 percent of streets there in need of repair.

Camaros and more at Mirabeau Meadows Park

The Inland Northwest Camaro Club is holding its second-annual open auto show Saturday at Mirabeau Meadows Park in Spokane Valley starting with registrations at 9 a.m.

The show will feature competition in a series of classes that includes Camaros, Corvettes, Chevelles, Chevrolets, Pontiacs, Thunderbirds, Fords, Mustangs and others.

Judging will begin at 11:30 a.m., with awards at 3 p.m.

Entries are $20 each. The early competitors to register will receive a free T-shirt. The public is admitted free to view the vehicles.

Spokane Disc Dogs will be competing.

“Come out and see some really cool Camaros, hot rods, street rods and some beautiful classics that may just take you back in time,” a news release from the club said.

Valley road work

In Spokane Valley, Sullivan Road from Trent to Wellesley avenues remains reduced to one lane in each direction through late August.

Montgomery Avenue from Dartmouth to University roads will have narrowed lanes and delays starting today from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Around Spokane

In Spokane, firefighters will station themselves at busy intersections Friday for their annual Fill the Boot fundraiser for muscular dystrophy.

Hamilton Street from Sharp to Springfield avenues will undergo repaving through Wednesday. Traffic will be down to a single lane in each direction.

On Friday, the Live at the Plaza event will close Wall Street from Sprague to Riverside avenues from 3 to 11 p.m.

Variable message signs are being installed on Francis Avenue from Division to the eastern city limits.

Work continues on Havana Street from Glenrose Road to 37th Avenue; Indiana Avenue from Division to Perry Street; 43rd Avenue from High Drive to Hatch Road; Columbia Circle and H Street; and Thor and Freya streets south of Hartson Avenue. Detours are in effect.

Also, repaving work is continuing on Mission Avenue from Division to Washington streets.

County projects

In Spokane County, paving work is occurring on Valley Chapel Road between Elder and Spangle Creek roads; Spangle Creek Road between Valley Chapel and Yale roads; and Wheeler Road between Painter Road and Latah.

Pavement is being fixed on Rutter Parkway from Waikiki to Indian Trail roads.

Idaho highways

In North Idaho, crews will chip seal a 6-mile section of U.S. 95 through Athol, in the Garwood to Sagle corridor, Aug. 10 to 31.

Work will proceed in the northbound lanes first and then crews will switch to the southbound lanes, the Idaho Transportation Department said. Speeds will be reduced to 45 mph, with flaggers and pilot cars guiding traffic.

Crews also will seal coat a 1.5-mile stretch of Idaho 54 from just west of the Blair Castle Road intersection to the intersection of Howard Road and Idaho 54. Work will progress eastbound to westbound.  

Scarsella Brothers Inc., of Kent, Washington, is the contractor on the overall $27.5 million Garwood to Sagle project.

Plans for U.S. 95

A public hearing will be held Wednesday to accept comments on plans to improve the section of U.S. 95 that runs through the South Hill area of Bonners Ferry.

The Department of Transportation is working on a preliminary design for this section of highway. The design will continue a three-lane concept north from Alderson Lane to Madison Street and will address pedestrian safety, vehicle safety, stormwater runoff, alignment of city street intersections and consistency of roadway configuration through town.

The hearing is from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Boundary County Middle School, 6577 Main St., Bonners Ferry. Displays will illustrate information on right of way, a typical roadway cross section and intersection modifications. Project staff will be available to answer questions, and those interested in submitting verbal comments can have their input recorded by a hearing officer.

For more information, contact project manager Ben Ward at ben.ward@itd.idaho.gov or at (208) 772-1285.