Two road and bridge construction projects got underway Monday, June 8, 2026, bringing lane reductions, full closures, and detour routes to several Spokane corridors — with work expected to continue through late October. Drivers who regularly cross the Maple Street Bridge or travel South Walnut and Greene streets should plan for significant disruptions in the weeks ahead.
Maple Street Bridge and South Walnut Street Work
The Maple Street Bridge, which has spanned the Spokane River gorge since 1958 and carries thousands of vehicles each day, is the centerpiece of one of the two projects. The $2 million effort involves grinding and resurfacing Maple and Walnut streets from Fourth Avenue south to the bridge approach, along with sidewalk widening, traffic signal upgrades, curb improvements to meet wheelchair accessibility standards, and general bridge approach repairs.
Work on the corridor began last summer but was paused when an asphalt laborers strike halted progress. Construction has now resumed with a firm timeline: the bridge itself will close to all traffic from June 11 through June 25. During that window, northbound drivers will be detoured at Fourth Avenue to Lincoln Street or Division Street, while southbound travelers will be rerouted at Boone Avenue to Monroe Street or Division Street. Lane restrictions on southbound Maple and northbound Walnut are also in effect between Fourth Avenue and the bridge. The resurfacing work on Maple and Walnut streets is expected to wrap up around June 25.
A city spokeswoman described the scope as routine upkeep, saying the work is “really just a standard maintenance project to ensure our infrastructure is preserved.”
Greene Street Bridge Deck Resurfacing
The second project, totaling $3.5 million when combined with related work on nearby spans, involves resurfacing the deck of the Greene Street Bridge. Southbound traffic on Greene Street is closed and detoured to Euclid Avenue, while northbound drivers face a single-lane restriction between Mission and Carlisle avenues. Local access between Carlisle and Ermina avenues remains open in both directions.
The contractor noted that at least one direction of travel will remain open on the structure throughout construction. “There will always be one direction — going either southbound or northbound — open at all times, so the bridge will never be fully closed,” he said.
The Greene Street Bridge portion is estimated to take roughly six weeks. Once that work concludes, crews will shift to two Freya Street bridges and the Havana Street Bridge as part of the same larger project. All work is scheduled for completion by late October 2026.
Impact on Regional Commuters
While these closures are within Spokane city limits, commuters from Kootenai County who travel west on I-90 and connect to Spokane arterials for work or shopping will need to account for added travel time, particularly during the Maple Street Bridge shutdown from June 11 to 25. North Idaho residents familiar with construction delays on regional corridors will recognize the pattern — similar disruptions are already affecting westbound lanes on Seltice Way in Post Falls, where summer construction is expected to close lanes through August. Overnight closures and ramp work near Coeur d’Alene have also been ongoing as part of I-90 bridge maintenance in the area.
What Comes Next
Drivers should expect the Maple Street Bridge detours to remain in place through June 25, after which work on the immediate corridor should be largely complete. Greene Street restrictions will continue for approximately six weeks from the project start. The Freya Street bridges and Havana Street Bridge are the next phases, with the entire construction program set to conclude by late October 2026. Motorists are encouraged to allow extra travel time and monitor local traffic updates for any changes to the closure schedule.