The City of Spokane soon will begin construction of a 2-million gallon combined sewer overflow tank, just west of Liberty Park, where Third Avenue passes under Interstate 90. 

Marlene Feist, city of Spokane spokeswoman, says the $9.6 million project has been awarded to Halme Construction Inc., of Airway Heights, and construction could begin at any time. 

“They’re ready to get started. We’re just waiting on easement paperwork from the Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration, as the property is state owned,” she says. 

Feist says the project will include excavation and rock removal at the site, construction of a 2-million gallon, underground concrete combined sewage overflow tank, and necessary attached piping.  

“This is one of several tank projects we’re working to complete, with the goal of managing combined sewer overflows to the river,” she says.  

According to Feist, such tanks are designed to hold excess water during storms or rapid snowmelt, rather than allowing it to overflow into the river. The excess water is held there, and then metered back to the wastewater treatment facility after the storm passes.

Feist says the work could take up to 18 months to complete, meaning the project likely will be completed in June 2018. 

Once the project is finished, several street trees, a sidewalk, and a bike path will be added along Third Avenue, just north of the tank site. The dirt infill area directly above the tank will be converted into a passive green space.

Other CSO tank projects the city is continuing work on include a $7 million project to construct a 700,000-gallon tank on the west side of upper/lower Pettet Drive, known to Bloomsday runners as “Doomsday Hill”, in north Spokane, and a $6 million project to construct a 1 million-gallon tank at Lincoln Street and Summit Boulevard, near Anthony’s at Spokane Falls restaurant. 

Halme Construction is the contractor for the Doomsday Hill project, and Spokane-based Garco Construction Inc. is the contractor for the Lincoln and Summit tank project. 

Later this year, Feist says, the city will start work on several other tank projects, including a 2.2-million gallon tank near City Hall on Spokane Falls Boulevard, a 2-million gallon tank at First Avenue and Adams Street downtown, a 1.6-million gallon tank at Riverside Avenue and Lee Street east of downtown, and a 1.2-million gallon tank near Northwest Boulevard and T.J. Meenach Drive, in northwest Spokane.