Highway 195 Interchange Project Begins - Spokane, North Idaho News & Weather KHQ.com

SPOKANE, Wash. - Construction began on the new Cheney/Spokane interchange off Highway 195 earlier this week. The project is estimated to cost about $6.4 million dollars and should finish up later on this year. Debi Hammel lost her daughter four years ago at the same place.  

"I think no matter what when I drive over this everyday I see the same thing," Hammel said. "I think she just made a split-second decision and didn't think twice about pulling out." 

Lorissa Green was a sophomore at Cheney High School and just 16 years old. In the weeks that followed people gathered at the intersection to remember a girl who family described as "full of life."  

Al Gilson with the Department of Transportation says anytime they can get the funding for a project like this is the right time to do the project.  

"It's going to increase safety a lot," Gilson said. "This interchange will allow for free flow traffic both on and off of 195 at that location and eliminate all of the left turns that have been taking place."  

Lorissa Green was making a left turn when she was killed at that intersection. Still, her mom is very excited about this change because it should ensure that something like this never happens again.  

"It's going to save lives," Hammel said. "This is her legacy now and I can only hope that in the future if something happens to me, I can leave behind something that is so great."