Spokane commercial real estate is influenced by many long-term factors, including transportation infrastructure. While new roads and interchanges don’t determine where development occurs on their own, they can improve accessibility, support business growth, and make certain areas more attractive for future investment.
Two major transportation projects are currently reshaping the Spokane region: the Sullivan Road and Trent Avenue interchange reconstruction and the North Spokane Corridor. While both are designed to improve mobility, they also have the potential to influence Spokane commercial real estate development and investment decisions for years to come.
Sullivan Road and Trent Avenue
Spokane Valley recently received a $20.8 million federal BUILD grant for improvements at the Sullivan Road and Trent Avenue interchange. Plans include replacing the existing bridge, adding roundabouts, improving freight access, and constructing pedestrian and bicycle facilities.
The surrounding corridor supports approximately 9,000 jobs, including a large number of industrial and freight-related businesses. The corridor already serves one of Spokane Valley’s largest concentrations of industrial and commercial activity. Improving freight movement and reducing congestion could strengthen the area’s appeal for existing businesses while supporting future development.
For nearby property owners, the project could improve access and make the corridor more attractive to future users. It may also support additional industrial, retail, and service development as traffic circulation improves.
The North Spokane Corridor
The Washington State Department of Transportation continues construction of the North Spokane Corridor, which will eventually connect north Spokane to Interstate 90.
The project is expected to shorten north-south travel times and improve freight movement across the region. That matters for industrial users, distributors, contractors, and other businesses that rely on efficient access to major roads.
The corridor may also affect how developers and investors view commercial land in east and northeast Spokane. Historically, major transportation investments have influenced where commercial development occurs. While every market is different, improved access often becomes one factor developers and investors consider when evaluating land near new interchanges.
How Transportation Infrastructure Influences Spokane Commercial Real Estate
Commercial real estate decisions rarely hinge on a single factor, but accessibility consistently plays an important role. Businesses consider how employees, customers, suppliers, and delivery vehicles reach a property, while investors evaluate whether infrastructure improvements could support future demand.
Transportation projects alone don’t increase property values or create development. They can, however, remove barriers to growth and improve the long-term competitiveness of an area.
What We Will Be Watching
The full impact of these projects will take time to develop. The next indicators will be new Spokane commercial real estate construction, business relocations, land sales, and increased interest near the improved corridors.
Public infrastructure does not create demand on its own, but it can remove barriers that have limited development in the past. As these projects move forward, they are likely to play a larger role in commercial real estate decisions throughout the Spokane region.
As these projects progress, they’ll be worth watching—not just for their impact on traffic, but for how they influence commercial investment and development across the Spokane region.
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Every commercial real estate decision is unique. If you’d like to discuss your property, investment goals, or the Spokane market, we’d be happy to help.
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