Spokane: City to Temporarily Close Pedestrian Access to Browne St Viaduct
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Expanded Hours at Navigation Center

Erin Hut, Communications Director, ehut@spokanecity.org

The City of Spokane today announced three actions aimed at strengthening public safety, improving access to services, and demonstrating measurable progress in addressing encampment and community safety concerns.

Browne Street Viaduct Closure

As the City begins construction on the Pacific Avenue Greenway, pedestrian access in the Browne Street viaduct will be temporarily closed. During this closure, the City will evaluate environmental design enhancements and seek partnership with BNSF to improve safety conditions of the property it owns and operates.

Code Enforcement will begin installing construction fencing Thursday to close off the four entrances to the viaduct.

Expanded Navigation Center Hours

The City is also expanding hours at its navigation center, which will increase access to a centralized location where people experiencing homelessness can connect with case management, behavioral health and primary care services, addiction treatment, and housing resources. Hours of operation will move from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily to 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

The navigation center was established as part of Spokane's shift toward a specialized shelter and navigation model focused on connecting people to individualized services and pathways toward permanent housing and treatment.

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Encampment Resolution Program Progress

The Brown Administration recently closed its 17th large-scale encampment utilizing the state's Encampment Resolution Program (ERP). Through this program, outreach teams identify people living in encampments, establish by-names list, connect individuals with appropriate services and housing, and work toward restoring the site.

Since July 2024, the City has placed 377 people on by-names lists and successfully navigated 239 people to housing.

SiteMonthCountyStatus# of Residents
as of by-name
deadline		Accepted
Housing
2nd & DivisionJul-24SpokaneClosed3925
2nd & DivisionNov-24SpokaneClosed248
Fish Lake TrailheadMar-25SpokaneClosed1910
Hill 'n Dale
Park/N. Colton		Apr-25SpokaneClosed1813
Shadle ParkMay-25SpokaneClosed105
MarquetteJun-25SpokaneClosed2115
Napa & LyonsNov-25SpokaneClosed74
CarlisleNov-25SpokaneClosed75
WaterworksDec-25SpokaneClosed96
High BridgeDec-25SpokaneClosed2215
4th AvenueJan-26SpokaneClosed2611
Maple Street BridgeFeb-26SpokaneClosed2213
195 & MarshallMar-26SpokaneClosed2113
Low-BridgeMay-26SpokaneClosed2622
Sharpe AveJun-26SpokaneClosed5335
Upriver DamJul-26SpokaneClosed2118
NettletonAug-26SpokaneClosed3221
17 Total
Encampments		1/1/24 thru
9/11/26		SpokaneOngoing377239

Together, these actions reflect the City's approach to public safety: addressing conditions that contribute to crime and disorder while expanding the services and interventions that help people move toward stability. The City of Spokane will continue to evaluate these efforts based on measurable outcomes.

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"This is what a coordinated community safety system looks like. From homelessness to behavioral health to housing, these challenges are intertwined and demand an 'all-of-the-above' approach," Mayor Lisa Brown said. "These actions bring the right tools together: enforcement when it's necessary, outreach and services when they can help, and investments that address the conditions that allow challenges to persist.

Filed Under: Government, City
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