Airway Heights City Council approves transportation plan, sets annexation date

By JAMES EIK

Staff Reporter

The Airway Heights City Council approved a six-year transportation improvement plan at its July 18 meeting, which will improve over 7.5 miles of roads in the city.

Running from 2012 to 2017, the only projects set to be planned and in motion are 14th Avenue, between Lawson Street and Lundstrom Street, and another one between Lawson Street and Campbell Street.

Crews will reconstruct the roadway to be 24 feet wide, and will install new storm drain systems and swales to capture runoff water.

Highway 2 improvements are also part of the plan, and include installing medians, traffic lights, street lighting and sidewalks at various points along the road. Intersections at Craig Road and Lundstrom Street will receive the traffic lights.

The plan passed by the City Council lists the same priorities as contained in previous years.

Once a year the plan may be revised, and annually comes to the council for approval. The plan shows the state government what the city's plans are in relation to transportation.

Previously on the list was a pedestrian tunnel. The item was removed from this year's plan.

The approved plan totals $13.7 million in expenses. The projected cost of the improvements includes $1.3 million in federal funds, $11.2 million in state funds and $1.2 million from local funds.

Also discussed at the meeting was the 405 acre annexation project to the east of the city. Nearly 757 residences will be added to city limits as well as 29 businesses.

The approximate land value added to the city is $101 million.

City Planner Derrick Braaten said that the agreement between Spokane County, Fire District 10 and the City of Airway Heights was the first of its kind.

Zoning in the annexed area is scheduled to tentatively take place in October. The first public hearing in regards to zoning will take place in September.

Action taken by the council established the official date for annexation and adopted zoning regulations for properties. The annexation project is expected to be finished by January 1, 2012.

James Eik can be reached at [email protected].