Date:  Monday, April 18, 2011

Contact: Al Gilson, WSDOT Communications
2714 N. Mayfair
Spokane, WA  99207
509-324-6015
gilsona@wsdot.wa.gov

How would you improve Interstate 90 in East Spokane Valley and Liberty Lake? More lanes? Easier-to-navigate interchanges? Residents and business owners can offer their suggestions and learn about possible design options for the freeway between Barker Road and Harvard Road next week at an open house in Spokane Valley.

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will host an open house from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, April 28, at Hope Lutheran Church, 17909 E. Broadway Ave. in Spokane Valley to present potential designs for this section of I-90. The options aim to help commuters and freight haulers get where they need to go faster and easier with added lanes and more efficient on- and off-ramp locations.

This part of I-90, as it exists today, was designed and built in the early 1950’s, Liberty Lake was home to just a few lakeside cottages and small neighborhoods. The only change was at Harvard Road Interchange, where WSDOT added a westbound loop-style on-ramp in 2002.

The Liberty Lake area has grown, becoming one of the state’s newest cities in 2001 with more than 7,000 residents along with significant commercial and light industrial development.

“With the large amount of growth in Liberty Lake, coupled with increased freight and commute traffic across the nearby state line, we needed to examine the current freeway system and look at ideas for the future” said Keith Metcalf, WSDOT regional administrator. “We’ve met with City of Liberty Lake and City of Spokane Valley officials, had our engineering staff do some evaluations and developed some options for the system. This meeting gives us the chance to present those ideas to the citizens and get their thoughts on what the next steps should be.”

There is no formal presentation planned, and people are invited to drop by anytime during the meeting. Engineering staff will be on hand to answer questions and take comments on the project.

Although construction funding is not yet available, WSDOT is developing plans for the next series of improvement projects based on the recent studies, discussions with local officials and public input gathered at this open house.

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