County highlights road project success in 2019

SPOKANE COUNTY — The Spokane County Commissioners issued a news release on Dec. 19 highlighting the county’s major road construction and maintenance projects of 2019 and 2020.

Several notable projects were completed during the 2019 construction season, including the Glenrose-Carnahan roundabout and safety improvements on 57th Avenue in Spokane.

Work also continued on a three-mile stretch of Bigelow Gulch Road that was straightened, leveled, widened, and included storm water improvements. The project took four months to complete and cost $5.9 million.

One of the largest and most significant projects was Phase 1 of improvements to Geiger Boulevard on the West Plains. District 3 Commissioner Al French said the project would have an important impact on development in the West Plains.

“We broke ground this spring, thanks to a $16.1 million BUILD Transportation Grant and almost $29 million from the project partners, French said. “The importance of this project to the region cannot be overstated.  It is a critical piece of infrastructure that will accommodate the industrial, commercial and residential development that will continue for years to come and bring thousands of family-wage jobs into the area.”

Those partners include Spokane County, city of Spokane, Spokane International Airport, the West Plains/Airport Area Public Development Authority, Spokane Transit, Washington State Department of Transportation and Spokane Regional Transportation Council. 

For 2020, the county’s public works department has a construction and maintenance budget of $45.2 Million. County engineer Chad Coles listed several projects scheduled for next year, beginning with phase 2 of work on Geiger Boulevard which will run east of the Amazon Distribution Center to the Geiger-Grove Road interchange.

Phase 5 of the Bigelow Gulch-Forker Road Corridor from Interchange to Progress Road should also get under way. Railroad projects include new gates, replacement of existing barriers and new signage at crossings on Brooks Road and Espanola Road north and northwest of Medical Lake. These are major public safety improvements and have received almost $2.5 million in federal grant funding.

Sidewalk and ADA work will continue to increase pedestrian safety including seven planned projects on West Terrace between the communities of Four Lakes and Marshall. County crews will also conduct gravel road stabilization at 19 locations totaling almost 28 miles of treated gravel roads.

When the construction season begins in late March/early April, Spokane County Public Works will update projects, traffic restrictions and possible delays on its website.