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The Millwood Town Council is ready to take the next step in improving pedestrian pathways along Argonne Road.
A half-mile stretch of the town’s main corridor is scheduled for a major overhaul that will include repaving the asphalt surface from River Drive to Buckeye, resurfacing intersections with concrete and installing wheelchair ramps. The project will be funded through a $1.3 million grant from the Washington State Department of Transportation and facilitated through the Spokane Regional Transportation Council.
At Monday’s Town Council meeting, Larry Comer of Welch/Comer Engineers told council members that the design survey work on the project is now complete. Comer added that word on a $120,000 grant from the Transportation Improvement Board should reach the town by the end of April. The funds would go toward improvements in the pedestrian routes along Argonne, many of which contain gaps or are in need of repair.
Last fall, when town leaders were discussing the project with representatives from WSDOT, Millwood Mayor Dan Mork said it would make sense to address issues like sidewalks while the major work on the road is underway.
“It would be a shame to hurry up and get this done when we could make some other improvements,” he said. “I think people will care if the road gets torn up again in a year to add something.”
In addition to the TIB funds, the town could also apply for two other grants that would bring money to pedestrian upgrades. Applications for both grants are due by early May.
During the correspondence portion of the April 7 meeting, Mork referred to a letter from a resident who travels in a motorized wheelchair expressing concern about inadequate sidewalks along Argonne.
“We’d like to fix every sidewalk we can when we address this project,” Mork said.
Continuing maintenance on the fatigued areas of Argonne cost the town around $20,000 each year, according to Millwood Public Works Director Cleve McCoul. There has been talk about putting bids for the renovation project out by late this year with construction starting sometime in spring 2009.
Town leaders and representatives from the design team will meet with Glenn Miles of SRTC later this month to discuss potential additions to the project including the underground installation of utility lines and conduits for the synchronization of traffic signals, walkway improvements and stamped concrete at pedestrian crossings.
In other council news:
- Brian Ellingson was sworn in as Millwood’s newest council member. A graduate of West Valley High School, Ellingson works as a lead foreman for Central Pre-Mix Concrete.
- Council unanimously passed an ordinance that shifts Millwood from the status of a town to a noncharter code city. The ordinance will be forwarded to the secretary of state for filing.
- Council heard a presentation from the Spokane Transit Authority on Proposition No. 1, a continuation of the existing sales tax for public transportation services, that will be on the ballot in May. Council approved a motion to draw up a resolution expressing support for the initiative.
- Mork announced that Millwood has earned recognition in the Tree City, USA program. A proclamation will take place Thursday, April 24, at the dedication of the Jeanne Batson Arboretum.
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By
Craig Howard
