The City of Spokane Valley needs to get a bird's eye view for its latest project. The city is getting ready to the replace the Sullivan Road Bridge southbound across the Spokane River.

In order to get all the right photo angles and aeiral measurements - the city is launching a helium blimp to get a better view of the bridge.

The blimp will carry two to three pounds of camera equipment. It is expected to launch sometime during the early afternoon on Wednesday, Oct. 17. It will be in the air for about two hours.

Senior Project Manager Jim Dingfield of CH2M Hill, which has the contract with the City of Spokane Valley for design of the new bridge, says the 15 foot long by 8 foot diameter blue and white blimp will be tethered to an operator on the ground, who will maneuver it into position and then use radio controls to adjust the camera to get the photos. 

According to the City of Spokane Valley, the photos will then be used to help create visual simulations depicting the finished bridge and its relation to the surrounding environment.

Spokane Valley is looking to finish several road construction projects in the coming weeks.

Fancher Road between Sprague and Broadway will be closed for paving from 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 29 through 6:00 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 30. Use Havana as an alternate.

Construction will be on Mission Avenue between Union and Pines starting on Tuesday, October 2nd. Traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction for about one week. Vehicles must be removed from the road or they will be towed.

Construction will begin on Pines Road between 16th and 24th to fill in sidewalks there. Work should begin on Oct. 1st and take about six weeks.

Finally, the Sprague Avenue Swale project will be underway for the next several weeks. Crews are adding swales to Sprague between Park and Thierman to help with storm water drainage. At least two lanes of traffic will remain open around the clock. Brief delays should be expected with this project.

A 51-year-old motorcyclist was injured this morning near the area of 32nd Avenue and Highway 27 after the driver of a pickup truck hit him.

Spokane County deputies responded to the scene to learn the 16-year-old driver of the ‘94 Chevy pickup truck was attempting to turn left into a parking lot when he struck the motorcyclist.

The motorcyclist was taken to the hospital with injuries. A news release from Spokane County Sheriff’s Office said he sustained a broken leg and possibly broken ribs and wrist.

The driver of the truck was not injured and was cited for failing to yield to the right-of-way.