The daily pounding of over 100,000 vehicles per day has taken a toll on the downtown Interstate 90 Spokane freeway viaduct and the bridges over Third Avenue near Liberty Park. Starting Monday, May 1, contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation will begin work on a long-awaited project http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I90/viaduct3rdavebrgexpjoints to fix aging bridge expansion joints and repair cracked concrete panels on the heavily traveled corridor. Although the work during the first week will be during evening and overnight hours, for the major repair work the contractor crews will need the long-term lane reductions on I-90 and closures of the Altamont ramps in Spokane’s East Central neighborhood.
Construction closure details:
Monday, May 1 – Sunday, May 7:
* Eastbound and westbound lane closures between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. between Division Street and Altamont.
Monday, May 8 – Friday, May 26
* Eastbound I-90 will be reduced to two lanes from Division Street to Altamont.
* The eastbound Altamont off-ramp will be closed 24/7 and the eastbound Altamont on-ramp will be closed during the afternoon commute, 3 pm to 7 pm
Monday, May 29 – Thursday, June 22
* Both directions of I-90 will be reduced to two lanes from Division Street to Altamont
* The eastbound Altamont off-ramp will remain closed 24/7 and the eastbound Altamont on-ramp will be closed during the afternoon commute, 3pm to 7 pm
WSDOT states that drivers can expect lengthy delays during long-term lane reductions on I-90. The WSDOT website http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I90/viaduct3rdavebrgexpjoints/AlternateRoutes.htm shows a list of potential alternate routes as well as a calendar of upcoming closures and lane reductions. Drivers are urged to allow for extra time to reach their destination and take transit, carpool or vanpool to help reduce backups.
Both directions of I-90 will reopen for the Memorial Day holiday weekend and in time for Hoopfest.