Forecast calling for heavy road construction season

It's as predictable as the changing of the season; as temperatures around the region starts to ramp up so does road construction.

Construction is continuing on South Riverton between Magnolia and Regal while crews have closed down Lidgerwood between Joseph and Francis while this summer crews will be working to install closed circuit televisions and fiber optic lines along Division Street.

In all the City of Spokane has $40 Million going into 35 different projects for the upcoming construction season.

That means more time spent in traffic for drivers; for businesses that means more time waiting for customers.

Shelley Watkins owns Bigelow Gulp Coffee on Francis near Bigelow Gulch and says business gets driven off as soon as road crews start putting the traffic cones out.

"It's very rough to get in and out of here so it makes it really hard for the normal person to come in and get a coffee," Watkins said.

Work on Francis will wrap up this summer before moving west next year. Until all the dirt is cleared and things open up Watkins will have to keep pressing on as best as she can.

"I understand because it will make it easier for customers to pull into the middle turn lane instead of worrying about getting rear ended when they're going 45 mph down the road," she said.

Some of the larger projects coming up this construction season include Francis from Bigelow Gulch to Crestline, 29th from Grand to High Drive on the South Hill and Spokane Falls Blvd. from Trent to Division.

Construction for those projects hasn't been set in stone but the city says they'll update residents as soon as possible.