| NEWS 16-059 | Contacts:
Toni Droscher, (360) 902-8604
Virginia Painter, (360) 902-8562 |
Road to Mount Spokane reopens Oct. 3
Road-improvement work makes for safer access
OLYMPIA – Oct. 3, 2016 – Beginning today, Mount Spokane Park Drive in Mount Spokane State Park reopens for public access, following several weeks of much-needed reconstruction and improvements.
Visitors can expect occasional traffic closures of 30 minutes at a time on Mount Spokane Park Drive, while road crews finish the work. The entire road construction project is expected to be completed by Friday, Oct. 21.
The reopening of Mount Spokane Park Drive means visitors can access the entire park, including Summit Road, which connects with Mount Spokane Park Drive at Linder’s Ridge. Summit Road will be open for day-use access through Oct. 16 and then closes for the winter.
Work on the $1.3 million road project began on July 18, and included reconstruction of approximately 2,000 linear feet of road, replacement of a box culvert at a creek crossing and the application of new road surface from the uphill end of the reconstruction to the intersection on Linder Ridge. The reconstruction portion of the project included the complete removal and replacement of old road structure, some of it in constricted areas with little or no shoulder egress.
The entire 3-mile road reconstruction was broken into five projects over 16 years and staged as funding became available. Work was scheduled to repair the worst sections of road first—those with steeper slopes, sharper turns and most deteriorated.
The road work will help preserve the long-term viability of the road and improve safety for visitors. Snow plows, sanding, de-icing and constant high-volume winter use of the road causes wear and tear that calls for significant repair and maintenance work.
For more information about the road project, contact Erik Folke, State Parks engineer, (509) 665-4332, erik.folke@parks.wa.gov, or Steve Christensen, Mount Spokane State Park manager, (509) 238-4258, or steve.christensen@parks.wa.gov.
More information about the road work is in our June 29 news release: http://parks.state.wa.us/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=234
About Mount Spokane State Park
Mount Spokane State Park is a nearly 14,000-acre camping park in the Selkirk Mountains, northeast of Spokane and is Washington’s largest state park. Mount Spokane is 5,883-fet high. In winter, the park can receive as much as 300 inches of snow. For more information about the park, visit: http://parks.state.wa.us/549/Mount-Spokane
About Washington State ParksThe Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission manages more than 100 state parks and properties totaling approximately 120,000 acres. The Commission provides a variety of recreation opportunities for citizens and provides stewardship protection for a diverse array of natural, cultural and historic resources. State Parks’ statewide programs include long-distance trails, boating safety and winter recreation.
Follow Washington State Parks:
Share your favorite state park adventure on the State Parks’ blog site at www.AdventureAwaits.com.
Support state parks by purchasing your annual Discover Pass today, and enjoy a whole year of outdoor fun on Washington’s beautiful state-managed recreation lands. For more information, visit www.discoverpass.wa.gov.
Wash. Telecommunications Relay Service: (800) 833-6388
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