 |
The streets of Spokane Valley will feature a confluence of construction work beginning this spring – each benefiting from different tributaries of funding.
The list of roadway renovations includes a major resurfacing effort along Sprague Avenue from University to Evergreen, a project buoyed by a $2.89 million grant through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, better known as federal stimulus funding. The Sprague upgrade aligns with the city’s Pavement Management Program, a blueprint for maintaining streets that emphasizes incremental repair over long-term replacement.
“We’re doing this at the right time,” said Craig Aldworth, a senior engineer and project manager with the city of Spokane Valley. “If you wait another five years, you’d have to replace the entire road.”
The importance of preserving municipal roadways was underscored back in July 2007 when Chuck Larson of J-U-B Engineers provided city leaders with an overview of the Street Master Plan, a document that chronicled the condition of Spokane Valley roads. The Pavement Management Program was included as a component of the plan, focusing on the benefits of regular maintenance in the overall funding picture.
Larson presented the example of a one-mile stretch of road that could be maintained for a total of $241,000 over a decade-long span. The cost of replacing that same street after 10 years would total $2.4 million.
“If you let a street degrade, then it becomes more expensive later,” Larson said. “What we’re trying to do is not let these pavements fail.”
Outside funding continues to play a major part in the city’s capital projects budget, covering around 74 percent of expenditures since 2004. In some cases, like the ongoing reconstruction of the Barker Road Bridge, the ratio is higher. Of the $11 million in overall costs, federal grants account for $10 million, with local utilities picking up another $350,000.
Spokane Valley Mayor Richard Munson gave credit to “an experienced city staff” for being able to consistently access supplemental financing.
“It’s the main reason we’ve been able to get this money,” Munson said. “It’s just another benefit of being a city. I know (Spokane County) did the best they could; but when you’re a city, you’re able to concentrate those efforts.”
In the case of an extensive renovation on Pines Road near Mansfield the city will pay just over $200,000 for 2009 costs with grants covering nearly $1.8 million of the remaining price tag. Spokane County was able to secure funding from the Transportation Improvement Board prior to Spokane Valley incorporation in 2003 and rally support from local developers affected by the construction.
The city later received a significant financial pledge from developers, paving the way for a federal grant that gave the project a final boost. Work is expected to be finished later this year.
In 2008, motorists and pedestrians waited patiently while the intersection at Bowdish and Sprague underwent a major facelift. As the warm weather months descend this year, similar improvements are scheduled for the junctures where Sprague meets Pines, McDonald and Evergreen. Each project will receives significant funding from the Spokane Transit Authority and include the addition of more durable concrete pavement.
Worley said the city will make a concerted effort to get the word out to all those affected by the work which will begin at Pines and move east. A public works open house is scheduled for Wednesday, May 6, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Spokane Valley City Hall addressing detours, closures and repairs associated with the intersection upgrades and the resurfacing of Sprague.
|
|
By
Craig Howard
