Construction impacts travel near ML interchange

Ongoing construction on the West Plains will impact residents’ travel plans this week and into the near future.

According to a June 21 news release from the Spokane County Road Department, crews are continuing work on construction near the Medical Lake-Interstate 90 interchange at exit 272. The south leg of a roundabout east of the interstate at Aero and Westbow roads is closed with detours in place. Both roads are also closed at that location and county officials said motorists should expect delays.

On the other side of the interstate, right of way improvements continue on Geiger Road between Hayford and Thomas Mallen roads until approximately Aug. 1.

Reconstruction work on the intersections at the interchange’s eastbound and westbound ramp terminals should pick up speed beginning this week. Washington State Department of Transportation officials said the project’s general contractor will mobilize at the site on June 24 to begin clearing and grubbing operations in preparation for constructing the roundabout to the north of SR 902 and the Geiger Boulevard intersection. Work will also begin on preparing for the new bridge structure that will parallel the existing bridge.

According to the project’s website, work includes a new parallel bridge over I-90 allowing two lanes of traffic in each direction along with the construction of a shared use path, three multi-lane roundabouts two of which will be constructed at the east and west on and off ramps to I-90 and modifications of three of the four ramps to and from I-90.

The project is scheduled for completion in 2020.