Riverside Ave. Begins Reconstruction

Kirstin Davis, Communications Manager, 509.625.7773

Thursday, June 9, 2022 at 10:05 a.m.

Construction for the rehabilitation project for Riverside Ave. will begin the morning of Monday, June 13. The project will bring much needed repairs and reinvent one of the most prominent and accessed streets to embrace various modes of transportation.

Project reconstruction will be focused on two blocks at a time and broken down into three phases to minimize impact. Each phase may last different amounts of time depending on the work required and the entire project is expected to last six months. Phased traffic restrictions and information include:

Phase 1:

  • Riverside Ave. will be closed at Division St. west to Bernard St.
  • Division St. will remain fully open to traffic traveling north.
  • Browne St. will maintain two through lanes traveling south.
  • Traffic signal work will take place at Browne St. and Riverside Ave.

Phase 2:

  • Riverside Ave. will be closed at Bernard St. west to Stevens St.
  • One lane will remain open on Stevens St. for drivers traveling south.
  • One lane will remain open on Washington St. for drivers traveling north.

Phase 3:

  • Riverside Ave. will be closed at Stevens St. west to Wall St.
  • Wall St. and Howard St. will not be closed at the same time.

Drivers and pedestrians should follow detour signs when in place. Pedestrians will have a three-foot pathway on all streets and emergency access will be maintained for Spokane Fire Department Station 1 on Riverside Ave. On-street parking between Division St. and Wall St. will not be available during each separate phase.

The Riverside Avenue project will be one the most visible new projects this year. Rehabilitation will continue west to Wall St. and when finished, work will include important underground utility work, provide a fresh surface for travelers and accommodate new bus stops for the transit City Line. Between Division and Monroe, the travel lanes will be reconfigured to include one lane in each direction, some left-turn lane features, and dedicated bike lanes between the curb and on-street parking.

This type of transformation will add to the vitality of downtown benefiting downtown residents, visitors, businesses, retail, entertainment, and hospitality. An active downtown is good for the economy and enhances public safety.

The City is investing $80 million in new construction work and another $21 million in projects continuing from last year will improve streets, rebuild bridges, protect the Spokane River, and invest in the City’s critical water and sewer systems.