Alternative 1 chosen for final segment of new north-south freeway
SPOKANE – The community-preferred option for the US 395 North Spokane Corridor connection to Interstate 90 has been given the green light.
Throughout the last several months, the Washington State Department of Transportation has been seeking public feedback through community engagement on two designs for the final segment of the new north-south freeway where it will connect with I-90.
The decision to go with alternative 1 came after a review of survey results and public comments, along with consensus among WSDOT engineers. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2026 and last roughly four years.
Alternative 1 design details
The community-preferred alternative 1 design includes a smaller infrastructure footprint with greater potential for placing pedestrian bridges and future development of any surplus lands. Alternative 2 has a shorter travel time, but would have included a larger infrastructure footprint and less potential for placing pedestrian bridges and future development of surplus lands.
Survey results found that 66% of all respondents preferred alternative 1, including more than 68% of those who said they were residents of Spokane’s East Central neighborhood, where the corridor will be located.
The decision was made to also maintain a westbound I-90 off-ramp to Altamont Street as part of the design. Nearly 72% of respondents said they did not want this exit to go away.
Respondents also said that alternative 1 provided greater opportunity for surplus lands to be redeveloped for economic development and pedestrian bridge locations to be selected.
Community engagement on the project
More than 14 community presentations were given on these designs, 1,100 responses were collected in an online survey, 7,000 mailers were sent to residents in the area and over 100 individuals participated in a community workshop. Engagement efforts were accomplished in collaboration with the city of Spokane, city of Spokane Valley, Spokane Transit Authority and Spokane Regional Transportation Council.