Sprague Avenue realignment rolls forward

 


Airway Heights, Kalispel Tribe come together on infrastructure plan that could assist in development of area south of Northern Quest

By RYAN LANCASTER

Staff Reporter

A public hearing was held at the May 16 Airway Heights City Council meeting regarding the relocation and vacation of Sprague Avenue, a project that is being jointly planned by the city and the Kalispel Tribe of Indians.

The city granted the Kalispel Tribe permission to vacate and relocate a portion of the road in order to benefit future development of the tribe's 252 acres of trust land, located to the south of Northern Quest Casino. The tribe will spend more than $2.3 million on the project, much of which comes from federal grants. Simultaneously the city will spend about $400,000 to bring reclaimed water and sewer infrastructure to the area.

Mark Aronson with Taylor Engineering provided council members with an overview of the project, which reroutes Sprague in a southeast direction from the corner of the Department of Corrections property to Hayford Road just north of the tribe's new fuel station. If funding allows, Aronson said sidewalks, bike lanes and trees will be installed at the same time as the roadway in order to create a “pedestrian friendly, aesthetic environment.”

The tribe is slated to advertise for bids on the project in late June with construction to take place between August and November. Sprague will become a four lane boulevard with a 12-foot median and will include a roundabout to eventually link South Lyons Road from Northern Quest southwest to Highway 2. It's also intended that 6th Avenue and 10th Avenue will connect to Hayford Road across the property in the future.

Aronson said an analysis is being developed to determine when or if the existing traffic light at the intersection of Sprague and Hayford will need to be shifted south to the new alignment location. The costs associated with moving the light will likely be financed by a group of developers whose projects necessitate the change.

Aronson said the new road is designed to handle large trucks expected to serve a planned light industrial area as well as future big box stores and other mixed retail proposed for the site. While Airway Heights will not receive property taxes from businesses located on tribal trust land, the city will receive sales tax provided the customers are not tribal enterprises.

It's so far uncertain what will become of the existing Sprague Avenue after the vacation, but city officials have said they may grant control of the road to the tribe to ensure its continued maintenance. It's also unclear at this time where bus routes might be located along the realigned route.

An informational meeting on the realignment will take place at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow, May 20, at Northern Quest.

In other council business:

•Council authorized the purchase of 7,000 square feet of land from MJM Grand, a business located near 21st Avenue, for an amount not to exceed $16,750 including closing costs and contingencies. The purchase allows connection of a lift station to the new wastewater reclamation facility.

•An $82,224 change order was approved for the wastewater reclamation facility project, covering the cost of communications hardware, electrical upgrades and other items in phase 1 B.

•Council heard the first reading of an ordinance that would regulate the distribution, transfer, sale or marketing of electronic cigarettes, related devices and supplies within the city. A second reading will take place June 6.

•Council approved the second reading of an ordinance authorizing the issuance of water and sewer revenue bond anticipation notes not to exceed $4.99 million. The Spokane County Treasurer will purchase the notes, the sale of which will be used for the wastewater reclamation facility.

•A resolution was passed proclaiming May 21 as National Kids to Parks Day in the city.

•Gerry Bozarth, a specialist with Spokane Emergency Management, gave council a presentation on utilizing Federal Emergency Management Agency funds for disaster cost recovery.

Monday it was also announced that the Airway Heights Public Works pipe tapping team earned first place in the Pacific Northwest Sectional competition and will now move on to the national competition in Washington, D.C.

Ryan Lancaster can be reached at ryan@cheneyfreepress.com.

 

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