North Spokane Corridor
Encyclopedia
The U.S. Route 395 North Spokane Corridor (NSC) is a $2.2 billion (2009 dollars) limited-access highway project in Spokane, Washington
, that is designed to improve freight and commuter mobility through the Spokane Metropolitan Area. The project by the Washington State Department of Transportation
(WSDOT) will construct a 60 mi/h freeway along a new alignment starting at Interstate 90
(I-90), running northward 10.5 miles (16.9 km) toward the existing US Route 395
(US 395) just north of the Wandermere area. When completed, the multi-modal facility is expected to have general travel lanes, with right of way reserved for a future high capacity transit system with park and ride lots. Additionally, a pedestrian and bicycle trail will run along the entire highway alignment. The project is ranked 19 of 43 on the Congressional High Priority Corridor list of the National Highway System
. When completed, the corridor is expected to carry over 150,000 vehicles per day.
was prioritized over the construction of the north–south Freeway. As a result, cheaper alternatives, such as one-way pair
ed couplets, were discussed.
In 1964, the Spokane Metropolitan Area Transportation Study (SMATS) was formed to fulfill requirements of Federal Highway Act of 1962, and in 1970, along with the Department of Highways, released the “Corridor Study for North Spokane and North Suburban Area Freeway”. It recommended a north–south freeway along Hamilton and Nevada streets (the corridor between Nevada and Helena). Though a full freeway interchange was built connecting Hamilton Street with I-90 (exit 282/282A, connecting to State Route 290
, SR 290), residents successfully blocked any further construction through this area.
and Wandermere/US 395 interchanges and lanes that will link them. Also, on the Spokane South Hill, construction has started for that end of the corridor. Groundbreaking began in June 2010 with the demolitions of various older houses and shops and such.
As of November 30th 2011, the NSC (north-south corridor)is almost ready for use from the US395 interschange to the Francis/Freya Interchange. Construction is apparently scheduled to end in 2012. Commuters are expected to use the newly opened corridor as a quicker way to acess Bigelow Gulch which leads to Arogonne which leads to I90. Traffic on Bigelow Gulch is expected to increase.
There are 62 known or suspected hazardous waste sites in the freeway's path.
The southern portion of the proposed freeway will require significant amount of homes and businesses to be demolished. A 1997 report by WSDOT noted that construction will required demolition of over 500 homes and 100 business, relocating over 1,000 residents. Many of these homes and business are in the poorest and most ethnically diverse neighborhoods.. WSDOT purchased many properties in Hillyard
and other neighborhoods in 2002. Businesses have been allowed to remaining operating until construction actually begins. Ziggy's store will be closed in 2010 after 45 years in business because of the construction of the freeway. Homes and churches have also been relocated.
Based on past history with the construction of I-90, it is forecast that the North Spokane Corridor will cause significant land-use changes. I-90 caused significant growth in eastern suburbs that were once small towns, while many neighborhoods in the center of the city experienced poverty and decline. It is predicted that significant growth and development will occur near the interchanges of the new freeway while areas near connecting sections will be poor neighborhoods. Whether modern growth management
laws will prevent sprawl in northern suburbs is far from certain. The environmental impact statement predicted more development in Pend Oreille County and Deer Park
north of the city.
While the new freeway would also be a good routing for US 2 to bypass Spokane, that highway is scheduled to stay on its current routing in order to keep Division Street in the state highway system. Nevertheless, it will be easy for motorists on US 2 to avoid this by using the freeway instead of Division Street. On the north side, a full interchange is being constructed at US 2 in the Mead area near Farwell Road. This route uses the entire North Spokane Corridor except the northernmost one mile (1.6 km) section between US 2 and Wandermere.
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
, that is designed to improve freight and commuter mobility through the Spokane Metropolitan Area. The project by the Washington State Department of Transportation
Washington State Department of Transportation
The Washington State Department of Transportation , was established in 1905. The agency, led by a Secretary and overseen by the Governor, is a Washington governmental agency that constructs, maintains, and regulates the use of the state's transportation infrastructure...
(WSDOT) will construct a 60 mi/h freeway along a new alignment starting at Interstate 90
Interstate 90 in Washington
Interstate 90 , a transcontinental Interstate Highway from Seattle, Washington, to Boston, Massachusetts, crosses the state of Washington before crossing the Idaho state line between Spokane and Post Falls...
(I-90), running northward 10.5 miles (16.9 km) toward the existing US Route 395
U.S. Route 395 in Washington
In the U.S. state of Washington, U.S. Route 395 is a major state highway in two parts, separated by a long overlap with Interstate 90 between Ritzville and Spokane. The southern piece, from I-82 near the Tri-Cities to I-90 near Ritzville, is a high-speed four-lane divided highway...
(US 395) just north of the Wandermere area. When completed, the multi-modal facility is expected to have general travel lanes, with right of way reserved for a future high capacity transit system with park and ride lots. Additionally, a pedestrian and bicycle trail will run along the entire highway alignment. The project is ranked 19 of 43 on the Congressional High Priority Corridor list of the National Highway System
National Highway System (United States)
The National Highway System is a network of strategic highways within the United States, including the Interstate Highway System and other roads serving major airports, ports, rail or truck terminals, railway stations, pipeline terminals and other strategic transport facilities.Individual states...
. When completed, the corridor is expected to carry over 150,000 vehicles per day.
History
Plans for a North Spokane Freeway date back to 1946. Earlier projects were cancelled due to other priorities and local opposition. The current project began construction in 2001.Early plans
The idea of having a freeway run northward through Spokane was originally conceived in 1946 after the Spokane traffic survey that year. The city of Spokane needed some sort of a major north–south traffic facility to relieve congestion. After several reports and studies, the first plans for the freeway were released in 1956 with an estimated cost of just $13 million, however, those plans were quickly shelved in 1958 as the construction of the Interstate Highway SystemInterstate Highway System
The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, , is a network of limited-access roads including freeways, highways, and expressways forming part of the National Highway System of the United States of America...
was prioritized over the construction of the north–south Freeway. As a result, cheaper alternatives, such as one-way pair
One-way pair
A one-way pair, one-way couple, or just couplet is a pair of parallel, usually one-way streets that carry opposite directions of a signed route or major traffic flow, or sometimes opposite directions of a bus or streetcar route....
ed couplets, were discussed.
In 1964, the Spokane Metropolitan Area Transportation Study (SMATS) was formed to fulfill requirements of Federal Highway Act of 1962, and in 1970, along with the Department of Highways, released the “Corridor Study for North Spokane and North Suburban Area Freeway”. It recommended a north–south freeway along Hamilton and Nevada streets (the corridor between Nevada and Helena). Though a full freeway interchange was built connecting Hamilton Street with I-90 (exit 282/282A, connecting to State Route 290
Washington State Route 290
State Route 290 , named Hamilton Street and Trent Avenue, is a long state highway serving Spokane County in the U.S. state of Washington. SR 290 travels parallel to a Union Pacific railroad from in Spokane through Millwood and across the Spokane River three times towards Spokane...
, SR 290), residents successfully blocked any further construction through this area.
Current project
After 33 years of further discussions and proposals, the final environmental impact statement (FEIS) for the current version of the project was approved in April 1997. The first phase of the NSC finally broke ground in 2001 and the first ribbon cutting ceremony (for a 3.5 miles (5.6 km) segment of lanes between the Francis/Freya and Farwell interchanges) occurred on the eighth anniversary of the ground breaking, August 22, 2009. To reduce costs, the scope of construction was reduced in 2008, reducing the northmost portion from six lanes to four, eliminating part of the interchange at Wellesley Avenue, and constructing the freeway at ground level, rather than below. This reduced the cost of that portion from $720 million to $285 million, while still allowing for those improvements later.Current progress
, work continues on the northern end of the corridor and includes construction of the US 2U.S. Route 2 in Washington
U.S. Route 2 is a part of the United States Numbered Highway System that has a western segment that runs from Everett, Washington, to the Upper Peninsula of the US state of Michigan. In Washington, it is a state highway that begins at in Downtown Everett. The of US 2 that lie within...
and Wandermere/US 395 interchanges and lanes that will link them. Also, on the Spokane South Hill, construction has started for that end of the corridor. Groundbreaking began in June 2010 with the demolitions of various older houses and shops and such.
As of November 30th 2011, the NSC (north-south corridor)is almost ready for use from the US395 interschange to the Francis/Freya Interchange. Construction is apparently scheduled to end in 2012. Commuters are expected to use the newly opened corridor as a quicker way to acess Bigelow Gulch which leads to Arogonne which leads to I90. Traffic on Bigelow Gulch is expected to increase.
Impacts
The highway is expected to significantly improve traffic in the north end of Spokane. Most importantly, it will allow trucks to avoid the congested Division Street, which is the only north–south truck route through the city currently. By moving cars from congested streets to a freeway, WSDOT predicts that it will reduce emissions by 3.6% each year and save a million gallons of fuel a year. It will also reduce predicted traffic growth on I-90, as new residents move to the North Spokane area instead.There are 62 known or suspected hazardous waste sites in the freeway's path.
The southern portion of the proposed freeway will require significant amount of homes and businesses to be demolished. A 1997 report by WSDOT noted that construction will required demolition of over 500 homes and 100 business, relocating over 1,000 residents. Many of these homes and business are in the poorest and most ethnically diverse neighborhoods.. WSDOT purchased many properties in Hillyard
Hillyard, Spokane, Washington
Hillyard, Washington was a town in Spokane County, Washington which existed as a separate town between 1892 and 1924.The town came about due to the Great Northern Railway and was named for James J. Hill, then-head of the railroad. Between 1904 and 1912, many of the town's houses were built, to...
and other neighborhoods in 2002. Businesses have been allowed to remaining operating until construction actually begins. Ziggy's store will be closed in 2010 after 45 years in business because of the construction of the freeway. Homes and churches have also been relocated.
Based on past history with the construction of I-90, it is forecast that the North Spokane Corridor will cause significant land-use changes. I-90 caused significant growth in eastern suburbs that were once small towns, while many neighborhoods in the center of the city experienced poverty and decline. It is predicted that significant growth and development will occur near the interchanges of the new freeway while areas near connecting sections will be poor neighborhoods. Whether modern growth management
Growth management
Growth management is a set of techniques used by government to ensure that as the population grows that there are services available to meet their demands. These are not necessarily only government services...
laws will prevent sprawl in northern suburbs is far from certain. The environmental impact statement predicted more development in Pend Oreille County and Deer Park
Deer Park, Washington
Deer Park is a city in Spokane County, Washington, in the United States. The population was 3,652 at the 2010 census.-History:Deer Park was officially incorporated on June 24, 1908. Deer Park got its name when railroad surveyors saw deer grazing in the area. Deer Park was settled in 1889 when a...
north of the city.
Route description
It will run from I-90 just east of Downtown Spokane northward about 10.5 miles (16.9 km) and will meet the existing US 395 just north of Spokane at Wandermere. The North Spokane Corridor is planned to bypass the busy Division Street corridor. Construction has begun on the northern section between Wandermere and Francis. The new freeway will carry the US 395 designation, and run about one mile (1.6 km) east of where it was originally planned in the 1960s and 1970s.While the new freeway would also be a good routing for US 2 to bypass Spokane, that highway is scheduled to stay on its current routing in order to keep Division Street in the state highway system. Nevertheless, it will be easy for motorists on US 2 to avoid this by using the freeway instead of Division Street. On the north side, a full interchange is being constructed at US 2 in the Mead area near Farwell Road. This route uses the entire North Spokane Corridor except the northernmost one mile (1.6 km) section between US 2 and Wandermere.