Kirstin Davis - (509) 625-7773
Wednesday, March 23, 2022 at 3:03 p.m.
The City of Spokane will begin major construction projects next week to create improvements on two high traffic routes. These projects will close Hatch Road at U.S.195 and the Thor-Freya eastbound I-90 exit ramp.
“We know these projects will present our citizens with transportation challenges this year, however the long-term benefits include safe and more durable infrastructure,” says Public Works Director Marlene Feist.
Hatch Road Bridge Deck Replacement
The Hatch Road bridge will be closed to traffic for a minimum of four months starting Tuesday, Mar. 29 as crews replace the bridge deck.
What to Expect:
Traffic restrictions include:
Motorists and bicyclists will not be able to access Hatch Road from U.S. 195 and will need to use an alternative route from High Drive and 57th Avenue. The City is working with GPS services and mobile apps such as Google Maps and Waze to avoid sending drivers to the U.S. 195 and Hatch Road intersection. The public should expect increased travel times. Evacuation routes will be in place in the event of an emergency.
The current Hatch Road Bridge is subject to shifting when heavy vehicles cross, leading to frequent short-term closures for repairs. A new bridge deck will allow fire trucks and local freight traffic to use the bridge and reduce the need for future maintenance. Drivers will also benefit from a right turn lane which will ease congestion on Hatch Road. Estimated cost of this project is $1.4 million.
Thor-Freya Corridor Reconstruction
The eastbound I-90 exit ramp at Thor-Freya will be closed starting Monday morning, Mar. 28 until mid-June. The closure is part of the Thor-Freya Corridor Construction project that is expected to last eight months and cost $8.9 million.
What to Expect:
Traffic will be directed to use the east bound Altamont exit while the off-ramp is closed. The east bound on-ramp at Thor-Freya will remain open and drivers will still be able to access I-90 heading east. Motorists will experience heavy congestion in the area. All businesses will have access from Thor and Freya streets.
The project involves rebuilding the asphalt streets with concrete on both Thor and Freya between Sprague and Hartson avenues. Concrete provides a more stable surface for heavy loads and higher traffic volumes. The hope is that this will reduce the number of costly repairs in the future. Additionally, the City will also replace old water pipes.
The Thor-Freya Corridor construction project is broken out into multiple phases to ensure access is maintained to all businesses throughout the project. When work occurs on Thor, Freya will have two-way traffic. When work occurs on Freya, Thor will have two-way traffic. The section of road being worked on will be fully closed to all traffic.
Additionally, a WSDOT project to replace the Mullan Road bridge deck over I-90 may impact congestion in the east Spokane and City of Spokane Valley area as people use alternate routes.
