Streets

Street & Alley Grading

While the vast majority of Spokane's street system is paved, some streets and alleys are unpaved.

Here's what you need to know about the City's maintenance activities on these streets and alleys:

• Improved gravel streets. Improved gravel streets are graded up to twice a year if needed. This usually happens in the fall and the spring. The City has 59 lane miles of improved gravel streets. Gravel shoulders also are graded during grading operations. Here is a map that identifies the improved gravel streets.

  The City doesn't oil improved gravel streets, but citizens can pay to have their street oiled for dust control. This is done by permit; call 509.625.6300 for information. After the permit is approved, the Street Department receives notice and check and grade the street if necessary and then we will approve oiling the street. If an existing oiled street is determined to need grading, grading operations will be performed.

• Unpaved dirt streets used for garbage collection. Due to budget constraints, this program is on pause and we hope to have it reinstated in the future.
• Unpaved alleys used for garbage collection. Due to budget constraints, this program is on pause, and we hope to have it reinstated in the future.
• Other unpaved alleys. The City doesn't grade or otherwise improve these alleys.

In all cases, citizens who own property on improved gravel streets, unimproved dirt streets, or unpaved alleys can form a Local Improvement District (LID) to pay to have the street or alley paved.