SPOKANE — Drivers using Sprague Avenue are experiencing significant traffic delays because of a construction project that will take two more months to complete.
The City of Spokane is replacing the asphalt along Sprague from Freya to Havana. The city says it will be replacing the asphalt for all lanes along this section of Sprague and plans to have at least one lane in each direction open at a time, but that has created more backups for drivers.
Currently, it can take several light cycles to get through Sprague and Havana because of the grind and overlay project happening along Sprague. The project is scheduled to continue through mid-June.
Local businesses say they have noticed a decrease in customers lately, partially due to how much traffic the construction has created. Having this kind of construction last into the summer could be detrimental to local restaurants along Sprague.
“It’s a little bit of a hassle. I know the owner of the Jack in the Box here, he says his business has gone pretty good because there’s cars lined up this way, that way, and the other way,” said Kevin Oxley, owner of Veterans Thrift Store.
Shamus’s Sandwiches says its catering business helps support the restaurant, but it hopes to see more customers once this project ends.
“I’m sure for our restaurant and a lot of other restaurants, summertime is the busiest time of the year, so it’s definitely not the best for our businesses but it’s the best for Spokane,” said Dalton Reilly, manager of Shamus’s Sandwiches.
Many of the businesses along the corridor are looking forward to having newly-paved roads. The city also plans to replace some of the storm water infrastructure and some of the older traffic lights as part of the project.
People living and working in the area recommend taking side streets to avoid any of the congestion along Sprague.
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