More than 100,000 drivers a day on I-90 in east Spokane, Wash., will find their travels slowed during July and August while two freeway bridges get some much-needed repairs and resurfacing. Contractors for the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will remove the existing asphalt surface to reach and repair the underlying concrete bridge deck and concrete approach slabs on the Altamont Street and Havana Street structures.
Beginning on Monday, July 11, traffic on the busiest segment of I-90 in eastern Washington will squeeze into two lanes in each direction. The 24-hours-a-day lane restrictions will remain in place until the project’s scheduled completion Aug. 4.
To help keep traffic flowing and reduce the potential for collisions, WSDOT will also reduce I-90’s four lanes to two lanes of traffic in the 1.4-mile section between the two bridges, plus several on- and off-ramps will be closed.
A project diagram with specific lane, and ramp, closure information is available on the Spokane Freeway Fix website.
WSDOT last refurbished these two bridges in 1984. Since then, the daily pounding of about 110,000 vehicles has taken its toll, and the two spans need some extra attention.
West Company Inc. of Airway Heights is the prime contractor for this $1.7 million project. Their crews will be working 24 hours a day Monday through Saturday to minimize the impact to drivers by completing the job as quickly as possible.