How-to
Stuck on the I-90 Viaduct in Spokane? Here's What Helps
If your car quits on the I-90 viaduct in Spokane, stay buckled in with your hazards on. Don't walk on a raised freeway. If you're in a lane or anyone is hurt, call 911 first. WSDOT says to dial 911 for roadway help on a state highway, and 911 can send its Incident Response Team. Then note your direction and the last exit, and call for the fix you need.
Why is the downtown viaduct such a bad place to stall?
Through downtown, I-90 is not on the ground. It rides up on a viaduct along 4th Avenue, on the south side of the city center. You can't step off onto a sidewalk. You can't coast into a side street. Traffic runs right beside you, and the streets are below you.
The viaduct also packs exits close together. Heading east, you cross Latah Creek. Then exits for Lincoln, Division and Hamilton come fast. The two big hospitals sit along the same stretch. A wrong guess about which ramp you just passed can send help to the wrong level of the city.
So on the viaduct, your car is the safest place to be. Stay inside, belt on, hazards flashing. Get out only if the car is smoking or on fire. If you must get out, go away from traffic, and get well clear.
Who do I call first on I-90 in Spokane?
Match the call to your moment:
- 911 if anyone is hurt, the car is burning, or you're stopped in a travel lane. Sentinel is not an emergency service.
- 911 for state highway help, too. WSDOT tells drivers to dial 911 for help on the roadway, even for a flat tire or an empty tank. Dispatch decides who comes, and that can include a WSDOT Incident Response truck.
- A roadside or tow call when you're out of danger and you want the job done. That's a jump, your spare put on, a door opened, or the car hauled to a shop you pick.
Say your battery dies in a lot near the Spokane Valley Mall after a cold night. You're parked, not on the freeway, and no one is hurt. Skip 911. You need a jump.
Where do WSDOT's response trucks patrol around Spokane?
WSDOT's Incident Response Team drives marked trucks on state highways. Its own data lists the main patrol routes for each region. For the Eastern Region, there is one: I-90, from about milepost 270 to the Idaho line, in both directions.
That stretch starts near the Four Lakes exit for Cheney, west of the airport. It runs over Sunset Hill, across the viaduct, through Spokane Valley and past Liberty Lake. So if you stall anywhere on that run, a response truck may already be on the road.
What about Division, US 195 and the side streets?
WSDOT says its other routes are covered on call, not on patrol. North Division up to the Y, US 195 toward the Palouse, and city streets on the South Hill are off the patrol list. Off I-90, plan on making your own call for help.
What can the response team do, and what can't it?
WSDOT says its team handles everything from flat tires and drivers who ran out of gas to major crashes. The program exists to clear lanes fast. Every blocked lane backs traffic up and invites a second crash.
WSDOT doesn't list towing to a repair shop among its services. If a response truck helps you and your engine still won't turn over, you still need a tow. Take whatever help they offer, then line up the next step.
How do I tell someone where I am on I-90?
Spokane's I-90 exits are short, and they stack up downtown. Give your driver these four things:
- The road: I-90.
- Your direction: east toward Idaho, or west toward the airport.
- The last exit you passed, or the small green milepost sign on the edge.
- A landmark you can see: the hospitals, the Latah Creek bridge, the stadium, a mall.
Here are some exits worth knowing:
| Exit | Where it goes |
|---|---|
| 270 | SR 904 to Four Lakes and Cheney |
| 277 | US 2 west, airport |
| 279 | US 195 south to Colfax and Pullman |
| 280 | Maple and Walnut, Lincoln Street |
| 281 | Division Street, US 2 east and US 395 north |
| 282 | SR 290, Trent Avenue and Hamilton Street |
| 287 | Argonne Road |
| 289 | SR 27, Pines Road |
| 291 | Evergreen Road and Sullivan Road |
| 296 | Liberty Lake |
"I-90 east, just past exit 280, on the viaduct" gets a driver to you. "Downtown somewhere" does not.
What does Washington law say about a stalled car?
Outside city limits, RCW 46.61.560 says you can't stop on the roadway. A car that breaks down so badly you can't help stopping is the exception. But you still have to arrange for it to be moved promptly.
RCW 46.61.590 goes further. You can't walk away from a car left on a highway unless you've arranged to get it moved. That means calling for a tow before you hitch a ride home.
If you do leave it, expect a sticker. Under RCW 46.55.085, an officer who finds a car left in the highway right-of-way puts a notice on it. If it's still there 24 hours later, the officer can have it impounded. The cost is yours. A car that isn't a hazard can stay longer if you can't move it and you tell law enforcement and ask for help. Sentinel doesn't do impounds, so getting it off the shoulder first saves you a much bigger hassle.
Does the move-over law protect me?
It protects your driver while they work. Under RCW 46.61.212, the lanes 200 feet before and after a working tow truck with its lights on count as an emergency zone. Drivers must move over or slow down there. Your car with only its hazards on is a different matter. Don't count on traffic giving you room.
Which fix does my car need?
Pick the right fix before you call. It keeps you from paying for more job than you need.
- It clicks but won't start. Spokane's airport averages about 117 nights a year at or below freezing, per NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals. Cold nights are hard on old batteries. Ask for a jump start first.
- A tire blew on the Sunset Hill grade. If your spare holds air, a flat tire change gets it on, so you can drive to a tire shop.
- Your keys are locked inside. Say it happens at a gas pump off Pines Road. A car lockout service opens the door without breaking glass.
- The car won't run, or it hit something. That's a tow. Choose the shop before you call so your driver knows where you're headed.
How does Sentinel fit in?
Sentinel Towing is a towing and roadside network. A vetted local partner tow company does the work. We text you a locked price before anyone is sent. Then we check on you by text until your driver gets there. That's the Stay-With-You Promise. You'll also get your driver's name, photo and truck by text, so you know which set of lights is yours.
Partners cover Spokane and the towns around it, from Airway Heights to Liberty Lake. Our Spokane towing page lists the neighborhoods.
Can I check I-90 before I head out?
Yes. The WSDOT travel map shows crashes and closures. The free WSDOT app is on Google Play and the App Store. WSDOT also runs a social account, @wsdot_east, for highway news east of the Cascades. Spokane gets about 45 inches of snow in a normal year, so check before a winter drive over Sunset Hill.
Stuck right now? Call 1-888-TOW-1213, or request help online.
Spokane Breakdown Questions
Should I call 911 for a flat tire on I-90 in Spokane?
WSDOT says yes for state highways. It tells drivers to dial 911 for roadway help, including a flat or an empty tank. Dispatch can send its Incident Response Team. On a city street or in a parking lot, call for roadside help instead.
Does the WSDOT response truck patrol Division Street?
No. WSDOT's data lists I-90 as the only main patrol route in its Eastern Region. Other highways are covered on call. On Division, you'll likely need to call for help yourself.
Can I leave my car on the I-90 shoulder overnight?
It's a risk. Washington law says you must arrange to get it moved. An officer can tag it, and after 24 hours it can be impounded at your cost. Call for a tow before you leave it.
Is it safe to get out of my car on the viaduct?
Usually not. The viaduct sits above the streets, with traffic right beside you. Stay in your seat with your belt on. Get out only if the car is smoking or burning, and move away from traffic.
Rules change, so check the official source before you rely on it. Sources: WSDOT Incident Response Program, WSDOT incident response routes, RCW 46.61.560, RCW 46.61.590, RCW 46.55.085, RCW 46.61.212, NOAA climate normals, WSDOT app.
