News Flash

The easternmost 14-mile portion of the Spokane River Centennial Trail, which includes the area along the city of Liberty Lake’s north edge, will be closed starting at 5 a.m. on Monday, April 15, for an asphalting and upgrading project.  This project is being overseen by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, and is the first upgrade to the trail since it was built more than 30 years ago.

The construction project will involve sealing pavement cracks, repairing damaged sections of the trail surface, performing root removal and tree pruning, and adjusting catch basin and manhole lids.  The trail will also be getting a smooth 1.5-inch asphalt overlay, and maintenance work will be performed on trail kiosks.

Plans call for the work to be completed around Labor Day, after which this portion of the trail will reopen.  

For safety and construction logistics considerations, all of the 14-mile section is expected to be closed to the public during the entirety of the work project.  This closure is partly due to prep work that will be needed throughout the 14 miles.  Additionally, the trail’s tight work area and access limitations for turnarounds will require spotters to guide large vehicles through extensive lengths of the trail in order to perform their repair activities. 

The project’s contractor will be using the seven trailheads along the asphalting project as staging areas – including the Harvard one within Liberty Lake’s city limits.  The State Parks Commission and contractor will have chains and cones across the trailhead parking lots throughout the project period.  The "non-formal" accesses along the trail will also be blocked off by the private property owners. 

Poe Asphalt Paving Inc. will be using ATVs, pickups, and dump trucks throughout the project area.  Construction activities will be conducted in accordance with the city’s established noise ordinances.  

The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission has further information and updates about this project at its Centennial Trail Asphalt Overlay web page HERE.