SPOKANE – Inland Northwest weather is stubborn this time of year. But despite winter-like conditions earlier in April, summer will eventually arrive and with it, recreationalists cooling off in the Spokane River. While kayaking, canoeing or swimming in the river are all popular activities, those looking to do so need to avoid the area around the Greene Street bridge as construction of the North Spokane Corridor – Spokane River Crossing project continues.
The Spokane River at Greene Street is closed to all water activities until the project is completed in 2025. Contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation have reported several incidences of recreationalists entering the river inside the closure point. This closure allows the work to continue but also is in place as a safety measure to keep all river users safe and out of an active construction zone.
The closure area is clearly marked. In addition to buoy-mounted signs 100-feet upstream and downstream of Greene Street, WSDOT has placed closure signs for the area at each entry point between the Upriver Dam and downtown Spokane.
This project to build a bridge crossing the Spokane River broke ground in June of 2023 and, upon completion, will connect the North Spokane Corridor between two segments – Spokane River to Columbia to the north and the skyway at Spokane Community College to the south.