SPOKANE, Wash. – Governor Bob Ferguson and other state leaders spoke to a large crowd Monday about their goals for the North Spokane Corridor project.
Event attendees included Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown and Spokane County Commissioner Al French.
Construction on the freeway began in 2001, with 7.5 miles currently open to the public.
While the project started 24 years ago, the idea was originally conceived in 1946.
It has taken more than 50 years of research, planning, legislation and public input to gain approval for the corridor.
In 1956, the first plans for the North-South Freeway were adopted, with an estimated cost of $13 million.
On Friday, the City of Spokane announced it had received $51.7 million for the project.
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) clarified that these funds are administered by the state, not the city.
Washington’s transportation budget allocated $375 million for the North Spokane Corridor for the 2025-2027 year, after WSDOT’s request of an additional $275 million was approved due to inflation and rising construction costs.
At Monday’s event, NonStop Local’s Steffi Roche asked the governor about how he plans to prove to his constituents that Eastern Washington infrastructure projects will be receiving the same attention as projects in the western side of the state.
“I’m a believer in actual facts. Where do the dollars go? That’s something you can track… There were scarce dollars, we’ve got some real budget challenges as a state, with our transportation funds. And, so, the fact that this project made it to the top of that very short list, with the completed funding to get all the funding done for the final three stages, I think, is the evidence that is a priority for me,” Gov. Bob Ferguson said.
The speakers at the event hosted by WSDOT, including Washington State Senators Marcus Riccelli and Jeff Holy, shared that the goal is for the North Spokane Corridor to be completed by 2030.
