Construction disturbs traffic flow

The project to repave and "rehabilitate" Second Avenue in downtown Spokane began Aug. 2.  The construction starts on the intersection with Sunset Highway, near Browne's Addition, and extends to Howard Street.

According to the city's website, the project will restore Second Avenue as well as replace and repair a 12-inch water distribution main and various catch basins.

Anyone who has driven in or around downtown Spokane can attest to the fact that the project has more than disturbed the usual ease of travel in the downtown area.

"It just does not flow like it did before," said Gonzaga senior Rebecca Hussey, who has to travel frequently to downtown for work. "People are more confused than they were in the past and it takes longer to get wherever you're going when you are around that area."

Don't expect it to get better anytime soon.

"We expect the project to take around three months," said Spokane's Deputy Division Director Mike Taylor, which puts the estimated completion date around the beginning of November.

Anyone who has driven down Second Avenue during the construction knows that the street is pretty close to impassable, yet the crews continue to let drivers travel down one restricted left lane.

"The good news is that some parts are ahead of schedule, including the installation of the water main," said Joel Graft, the city's supervising construction manager. "However, other parts are slightly behind schedule for now."

Still, the construction timeline has not yet changed as of yet.

For some, the project comes at an inopportune time.

"Are you kidding me?" said Gonzaga senior Samara Hanks when asked about whether the project has affected her. "We have had to completely alter our way of going to and from our home."

Hanks, who lives with her sister, Gonzaga sophomore Hanna Hanks, in Browne's Addition, said that there has been a noticeable increase in traffic in and around the Second Avenue area.

"What is worse is that we are forced to find new and inferior ways of traveling to and from school," said Hanks. "Second simply is the best way to get to and from downtown on foot or bike."

What Hanks worries about the most, as a result of the construction, is that the project will deter the already insular Gonzaga students from visiting the unique neighborhood of Browne's Addition.

"Most Gonzaga students don't even know the neighborhood exists," said Hanks. "And this project certainly won't do anything to encourage them to visit anytime soon."

However, the city hopes that the rehabilitation will eventually help ease all traffic to that neighborhood — a desire that will translate, hopefully, into success for the project because it was not an inexpensive one.

"The cost of the construction was a little less than $2.1 million, which includes all of the smaller projects directly connected to Second Avenue," said Spokane's Budget Director Tim Dunidant.

According to the city, a 10-year street bond as well as the Water and Wastewater departments of the city are funding the project.

Yet the completion date will not come soon enough for many who rely on Second Avenue to get to and from work.

"Normally the commute would be really simple and easy," said Hussey, "but now I have to leave quite a bit earlier than I did before if I expect to be on time."