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It’s a road improvement project that just might have its own cheering section.
Beginning March 17, the city of Spokane Valley will launch a major renovation of Appleway Road, covering a span of 1.29 miles from Corbin to Hodges. The $6 million project is scheduled to be finished by Sept. 1.
In addition to adding new asphalt and a center turn lane, the work will include the construction of a concrete bike and pedestrian path on the south side of the road. The 10-foot wide walkway will connect with Liberty Lake’s extensive trail system to the east, a network that flows into the Centennial Trail.
“This will complete the improvements from Sullivan Road to Liberty Lake – it’s the gap that’s left over,” said Steve Worley, a senior engineer who coordinates capital projects for the city of Spokane Valley. “We think it will be a lot nicer for the folks who live out there.”
Prior to Spokane Valley incorporation in 2003, Spokane County completed repaving work on a portion of Appleway east of Sullivan. The city of Liberty Lake has also made their share of improvements to the main stretch of road leading into municipal boundaries.
A small portion of the project will overlap into Liberty Lake, Worley said. Liberty Lake officials have agreed to pay $22,000 for their share of the work.
The most recent facelift of Appleway will include an upgrade of the intersection at Barker Road where sturdier concrete will replace asphalt and a new traffic signal will be installed.
It is the revision to pedestrian features, however, that has emerged as the highlight of the project. A 5-foot wide sidewalk will be added on the north side of the road along with the multi-use pathway to the south. Space will also be left on the south side for a possible light rail line.
Kaye Turner, executive director of Friends of the Centennial Trail, said there has been an increased emphasis on pedestrian-friendly design in recent years. Just this week, the Spokane County Planning Commission approved a document drawn up by the Inland Northwest Trails Coalition which outlined the importance of trails in the area development agenda.
“It has to be a priority when you’re dealing with any urban area,” Turner said. “It should be about preserving greenspace and giving residents an opportunity to live a healthy lifestyle by jogging, walking and biking.”
Last summer, Sullivan Road was the focus of a multimillion dollar renovation which lasted around three weeks. The efficient approach had merchants and residents in the affected area applauding Spokane Valley staff and the Washington Department of Transportation for their work in reducing traffic delays and the impact on business.
Shane Arlt, an assistant engineer in the Spokane Valley Public Works department who will serve as the construction project manager for the Appleway job, has been issuing notifications to local business owners who will be impacted by the roadwork. Arlt said there will be one-lane, two-way traffic throughout the course of the project.
A federal grant will cover nearly 87 percent of the project’s costs. The city will be responsible for the remaining sum of around $823,000. Worley said the Appleway renovation is in line with the priorities of the city’s new street management plan, an approach dedicated to evaluating and maintaining safe, functional roads.
“It’s about how we preserve our streets,” Worley said.
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By
Craig Howard
