Another section of NSC to open on June 13

May 31, 2012

Drivers will get their first chance to try out a new connection between U.S. Highway 395 and the northern half of the 10-mile North Spokane Corridor (NSC)on June 13.
Construction crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) built two gracefully curving bridges at the north end of the route (near the Wandermere Golf Course) and completed a four-lane section of divided concrete freeway linking the NSC with U.S. 395. A fully paved pedestrian and bicycle path parallels the new freeway, connecting to other trails along the route.
Drivers who have watched the construction for the past three years will be able to enter the NSC from U.S. 395 via a direct connection, traveling at freeway speeds. This means traffic will now flow on the northern five miles of the NSC.
A brief ceremony is planned for 1:30 p.m. on June 13, to celebrate this milestone. The event will take place on the northbound lanes of the NSC north of Farwell Road. Crews will remove all construction equipment and open the roadway to traffic later in the day.
Funding for this $38 million project came from the transportation package passed by the 2003 Legislature. Graham Construction and Management of Spokane is the prime contractor.
Still under construction are the southbound lanes from the Freya/Francis area to Farwell Road and the Parksmith Road Interchange. Those sections of the NSC will be completed later this year.
The Francis Avenue Bridge project is next up for construction with work expected to begin later this summer.