Shift in schools affects sidewalk grant

There’s a new twist to that Spokane Way sidewalk project.

Grand Coulee’s council heard engineer Jeff Stevens from Gray & Osborne explain that he thought the Spokane Way sidewalk application needs to have its language adjusted to reflect the fact that Center School is not now the primary reason for the project.

Stevens said that two years ago, when the language of the application was developed, the school district hadn’t embarked on a building program that would eliminate Center School.

The main language of the application was that it would service students walking to the school.

Now the language is going to emphasize the dangers of pedestrians walking along a road traveled by service trucks. It will also address drainage concerns, and emphasize that the sidewalk would service those who walk to the library and to town for shopping.

Stevens said he didn’t think there would be any problem getting the grant with the changed language.

Gray & Osborne will receive $26,000 for the design work for the $225,000 project. The timeline for the project calls for it to go out for bid in February, 2013, and for completion in August, 2013.

The grant is from the state’s Transportation Improvement Board.