The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), in partnership with the city of Spokane, will spend $8 million to build a non-motorized bridge reconnecting neighborhoods split by Interstate 90 in the 1950s. Construction is expected to begin after the design phase concludes in 2029.
Building the Liberty Park Land Bridge across I-90 will serve local communities well, providing displaced households with greater access to critical amenities and services that were previously inaccessible and unsafe to access on foot or bicycle.
Once completed, the project will establish new connections to multiple trail networks and Liberty Park – the bridge namesake. Development of the I-90 highway disproportionately impacted underserved and marginalized communities in the East Central neighborhood, leaving thousands of households functionally stranded.
Aside from encouraging safety and mobility across high-traffic areas of the city, officials anticipate that the project will help reduce vehicle miles and increase transit access. Additional benefits include re-established green space and parkland, reduced air and noise pollution and more economic opportunities for East Central neighborhood residents.
WSDOT is establishing a Community Design Collaborative to keep the community involved and their interests kept at the head of the initiative. Applications for the collaborative closed on March 23, with those chosen to represent their community to be announced in the near future.
Photo by Kelly from Pexels
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