SPOKANE VALLEY, WA—The City of Spokane Valley will enhance the intersection at S. Bowdish Road and E. 16th Avenue with additional measures to slow traffic speeds and increase safety for pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers. City crews will complete the work as the weather allows, which includes motion-activated roundabout ahead signs with flashing LED lights, yield signs with flashing LED lights and curbs with vertical tubular markers.
The City completed the majority of the Bowdish Road Improvements Project in October 2024, which included the construction of a small roundabout at the intersection of S. Bowdish Road and E. 16th Avenue, a new sidewalk on the east side of S. Bowdish Road between E. 12th Avenue and E. 22nd Avenue, replacement of asphalt within the project limits and enhanced stormwater conveyance and treatment.
The E. 16th Avenue and S. Bowdish Road roundabout was installed to reduce the risk of vehicular accidents at the prior four-way stop caused by drivers failing to obey the existing stop signs. This roundabout was a low-cost enhancement to an already planned sidewalk, preservation and stormwater project. The intersection was designed as a smaller-scale roundabout to avoid extensive right-of-way acquisitions, costly residential relocations and the prohibition of truck turning movements and to achieve the desired safety improvements at the lowest cost to the taxpayer.
In November 2024, after observation of driving behavior, analysis and community feedback on the S. Bowdish Road and E. 16th Avenue intersection, the City made some initial low-cost adjustments at the roundabout to reduce speeds through the area. These included adding 15 MPH advisory signs to the roundabout signs, pavement markings to E. 16th Avenue and curbing with delineators to the bike lanes to help channelize traffic and encourage a slower flow of traffic. While these additions have been helpful, city engineers identified additional adjustments to further influence responsible driver decisions.
Upon completing these next improvements, the City will continue to monitor this intersection and collect community feedback.
Details and future updates about the Bowdish Road Improvements Project are available at SpokaneValleyWA.gov/Bowdish.
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