City to Temporarily Close Pedestrian Access to Browne St Viaduct

Expanded Hours at Navigation Center

Erin Hut, Communications Director, ehut@spokanecity.org

Wednesday, September 16, 2026 at 3:36 p.m.

The City of Spokane today announced three actions aimed at strengthening public safety, improving access to services, and demonstrating measurable progress in addressing encampment and community safety concerns.

Browne Street Viaduct Closure

As the City begins construction on the Pacific Avenue Greenway, pedestrian access in the Browne Street viaduct will be temporarily closed. During this closure, the City will evaluate environmental design enhancements and seek partnership with BNSF to improve safety conditions of the property it owns and operates.

Code Enforcement will begin installing construction fencing Thursday to close off the four entrances to the viaduct.

Expanded Navigation Center Hours

The City is also expanding hours at its navigation center, which will increase access to a centralized location where people experiencing homelessness can connect with case management, behavioral health and primary care services, addiction treatment, and housing resources. Hours of operation will move from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily to 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

The navigation center was established as part of Spokane’s shift toward a specialized shelter and navigation model focused on connecting people to individualized services and pathways toward permanent housing and treatment.

Encampment Resolution Program Progress

The Brown Administration recently closed its 17th large-scale encampment utilizing the state’s Encampment Resolution Program (ERP). Through this program, outreach teams identify people living in encampments, establish by-names list, connect individuals with appropriate services and housing, and work toward restoring the site.

Since July 2024, the City has placed 377 people on by-names lists and successfully navigated 239 people to housing.

Site Month County Status # of Residents
as of by-name
deadline		 Accepted
Housing
2nd & Division Jul-24 Spokane Closed 39 25
2nd & Division Nov-24 Spokane Closed 24 8
Fish Lake Trailhead Mar-25 Spokane Closed 19 10
Hill ’n Dale
Park/N. Colton		 Apr-25 Spokane Closed 18 13
Shadle Park May-25 Spokane Closed 10 5
Marquette Jun-25 Spokane Closed 21 15
Napa & Lyons Nov-25 Spokane Closed 7 4
Carlisle Nov-25 Spokane Closed 7 5
Waterworks Dec-25 Spokane Closed 9 6
High Bridge Dec-25 Spokane Closed 22 15
4th Avenue Jan-26 Spokane Closed 26 11
Maple Street Bridge Feb-26 Spokane Closed 22 13
195 & Marshall Mar-26 Spokane Closed 21 13
Low-Bridge May-26 Spokane Closed 26 22
Sharpe Ave Jun-26 Spokane Closed 53 35
Upriver Dam Jul-26 Spokane Closed 21 18
Nettleton Aug-26 Spokane Closed 32 21
17 Total
Encampments		 1/1/24 thru
9/11/26		 Spokane Ongoing 377 239

Together, these actions reflect the City’s approach to public safety: addressing conditions that contribute to crime and disorder while expanding the services and interventions that help people move toward stability. The City of Spokane will continue to evaluate these efforts based on measurable outcomes.

“This is what a coordinated community safety system looks like. From homelessness to behavioral health to housing, these challenges are intertwined and demand an ‘all-of-the-above' approach,” Mayor Lisa Brown said. “These actions bring the right tools together: enforcement when it’s necessary, outreach and services when they can help, and investments that address the conditions that allow challenges to persist.