Getting There: Engineers will study Post Street Bridge

The city of Spokane is taking a new look at the question of what to do with the aging Post Street Bridge.

An engineering firm has been hired to come up with options for fixing up the bridge or replacing it.

CH2M Hill will conduct the “type, size and location study” over the next year or so under a $385,000 contract.

For years, officials at City Hall have talked about tearing out the old bridge and replacing it with a pedestrian-only bridge.

The new study will look at various options, including the possibility of tearing the bridge down to its main arch and building a new span on top of it, which would be similar to the work done a decade ago on the Monroe Street Bridge.

Julie Happy, a spokeswoman for the city, said rehabilitation of the bridge is one of the scenarios that will be examined in the study.

The bridge carries only northbound traffic, but it is also the designated route of the Centennial Trail from Riverfront Park to the Kendall Yards development on the North Bank of the Spokane River.

The bridge has had weight restrictions for years.

It supports the city’s major sewer interceptor line for wastewater coming from much of the city south and east of the bridge.

Two years ago, city officials estimated that a replacement pedestrian bridge could cost $10 million, and that a $1.3 million federal grant is available for the work.

Sullivan meeting

Spokane Valley public works engineers are hosting a community meeting Thursday to give information about next summer’s plan to repave Sullivan Road from Sprague to Mission avenues.

The meeting will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Valley Assembly Church, 15618 E. Broadway Ave. A formal presentation with an overview of the project will start at 5:45 p.m.

Project Engineer Craig Aldworth will provide the information and be available for questions.

For more information, contact Aldworth at (509) 720-5001 or caldworth@spokanevalley.org.

Street closures

In Spokane, construction projects are causing a number of minor street and lane closures.

A new water tap at Post Street and Mallon Avenue has resulted in closures through Tuesday.

The alley east of Hamilton Street between Marietta and Jackson avenues is closed for a new sewer connection.

The two eastern lanes of northbound Washington Street from Second to Pacific avenues are closed for a new water line to supply sufficient fire protection.

Mauer Construction has extended its sidewalk closure at 1120 N. Division St. until the end of this month for demolition work.

Garco Construction has closed a sidewalk and parking lane along Third Avenue from Monroe to Madison streets for improvements at the Lexus dealership there.