Washington State Route 904
Encyclopedia
State Route 904 is a 16.96 miles (27.29 km) long state highway
in the U.S. state
of Washington, located entirely in Spokane County
. The route starts at an interchange with (I-90) and (US 395) in Tyler and travels to Cheney
, serving the Eastern Washington University
, before ending at I-90 and US 395 in Four Lakes
. The roadway, named First Street in Downtown Cheney, is paralleled by three rail lines, a BNSF Railway
route that carries Amtrak
's Empire Builder
, a Union Pacific route and the Eastern Washington Gateway Railroad.
The Central Washington Highway was established in 1913 and served Cheney via the current route of SR 904. The highway's designation were changed starting in 1923, when it became . US 395 was extended southwest from Spokane
to Pasco
between 1933 and 1939. In 1937, State Road 11 became (PSH 11), which was concurrent
with both US 395 and by 1940. A bypass
of Cheney between Tyler and Four Lakes was planned at the same time as the Interstate Highway System
. I-90 was created and PSH 11 was routed onto the future alignment in 1957. Secondary State Highway 11H (SSH 11H) used the original route and became SR 904 during the 1964 highway renumbering. The Cheney bypass was opened in 1966. After the Space Shuttle
Columbia
disintegrated during re-entry
during STS-107
in 2003, killing all seven passengers, the road was renamed the Lt. Col. Michael P. Anderson Memorial Highway after one of the passengers that was raised in Cheney. The Washington State Department of Transportation
(WSDOT) is currently planning to widen SR 904 between Cheney and Four Lakes from two to five lanes as part of the route development plan.
State Route 904 (SR 904) begins at a diamond interchange
with (I-90), concurrent
with (US 395) in Tyler. Traveling northeast over an unnamed creek
to Babb, the highway becomes parallel with a rail line owned by BNSF Railway
and used by Amtrak
's Empire Builder
route from Portland, Oregon
to Spokane
. The BNSF line is paralleled by a Union Pacific rail line while the roadway and railways enter Cheney
. Within Cheney, the road is named First Street and passes Eastern Washington University
. SR 904 turns north, now parallel to the Eastern Washington Gateway Railroad, at an intersection with the Cheney–Spokane Road, which was the busiest intersection on the highway, with an estimated daily average of 13,000 motorists in 2007. After the intersection, the road turns northwest to exit Cheney and intersect the old alignment of (PSH 11). Shortly afterwards, the roadway enters Four Lakes
, passing Meadow Lake and leaving the Eastern Washington Gateway Railroad before ending at a trumpet interchange with I-90 and US 395.
using the present-day route of SR 904 was the Central Washington Highway, added to the state highway system
in 1913. The highway served Pasco
, Ritzville
, Cheney and Spokane
, but the segment between Cheney and Four Lakes
wasn't completed until after 1919. The Central Washington Highway became in a 1923 restructuring of the highway system. Between 1933 and 1939, (US 395) was extended southwest from Spokane to Pasco, via Cheney. The state roads became Primary state highways in 1937 and hence, (PSH 11) was established to replace State Road 11. later became concurrent
with US 395 and PSH 11 in 1940 after it was moved to a southern alignment.
On 29 June 1956, President
Dwight D. Eisenhower
signed the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956
into law, establishing a system of freeways that would later become the Interstate Highway System
. Included in the system was , which was to replace US 10 and become concurrent with US 395, while bypassing
Cheney. PSH 11, US 395 and I-90 were rerouted onto the future bypass in 1957. The former highway from Tyler to Four Lakes became Secondary State Highway 11H (SSH 11H) in 1961; the Cheney bypass opened on 18 November 1966. During the 1964 highway renumbering, SSH 11H became SR 904, part of the new highway system, then named the "sign routes". During STS-107
, a NASA
Space Shuttle
mission, Lieutenat colonel
Michael P. Anderson, a Cheney native, along with the rest of the Columbia
's crew, were killed when it disintegrated during re-entry
on 1 February 2003. SR 904 was posthumously renamed to the Lt. Col. Michael P. Anderson Memorial Highway in his honor later that February. The official dedication ceremony was held on 1 August 2003. Increasing traffic accidents and traffic has caused the Washington State Department of Transportation
(WSDOT) to create plans to widen the roadway between Cheney and Four Lakes. The plans, later named the route development plan, calls for a five-lane highway with new intersections built on the highway.
.
State highways in Washington
In the U.S. state of Washington, the Washington State Department of Transportation maintains a network of over 7000 miles of state highways, including all Interstate and U.S. Highways that pass through the state. The system comprises 8.5% of the state's public road mileage, but carries over half...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Washington, located entirely in Spokane County
Spokane County, Washington
Spokane County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington, named after the Spokane tribe. As of the 2010 census the population was 471,221, making it the fourth most populous county in Washington state. The largest city and county seat is Spokane, the second largest city in the state,...
. The route starts at an interchange with (I-90) and (US 395) in Tyler and travels to Cheney
Cheney, Washington
Cheney is a city in Spokane County, Washington, United States. The full time resident population was 10,590 as of 2010 census. Eastern Washington University is located in Cheney, and its population grows to approximately 17,600 people on a temporary basis when classes at Eastern Washington...
, serving the Eastern Washington University
Eastern Washington University
Eastern Washington University is an American public, coeducational university located in Cheney, Washington.Founded in 1882, the university is academically divided into four colleges: Arts and Letters; Business and Public Administration; Science, Health and Engineering; and Social & Behavioral...
, before ending at I-90 and US 395 in Four Lakes
Four Lakes, Washington
Four Lakes is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Spokane County, Washington, United States, just southwest of the city of Spokane, and north of Cheney. As of the 2010 census, its population was 512. Both Interstate 90 and SR 904 run through Four Lakes and the junction of the...
. The roadway, named First Street in Downtown Cheney, is paralleled by three rail lines, a BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway
The BNSF Railway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. It is one of seven North American Class I railroads and the second largest freight railroad network in North America, second only to the Union Pacific Railroad, its primary...
route that carries Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
's Empire Builder
Empire Builder
The Empire Builder is a passenger train route operated by Amtrak in the Midwestern and Northwestern United States. It is Amtrak's busiest long-distance route and busiest daily train, carrying more than 500,000 travelers annually since 2007. Overall, it is the railroad's 10th-busiest line. Before...
, a Union Pacific route and the Eastern Washington Gateway Railroad.
The Central Washington Highway was established in 1913 and served Cheney via the current route of SR 904. The highway's designation were changed starting in 1923, when it became . US 395 was extended southwest from Spokane
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
to Pasco
Pasco, Washington
Pasco is a city in and the county seat of Franklin County, Washington, United States.Pasco is one of three cities that make up the Tri-Cities region of the state of Washington...
between 1933 and 1939. In 1937, State Road 11 became (PSH 11), which was concurrent
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
with both US 395 and by 1940. A bypass
Bypass (road)
A bypass is a road or highway that avoids or "bypasses" a built-up area, town, or village, to let through traffic flow without interference from local traffic, to reduce congestion in the built-up area, and to improve road safety....
of Cheney between Tyler and Four Lakes was planned at the same time as the Interstate Highway System
Interstate Highway System
The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, , is a network of limited-access roads including freeways, highways, and expressways forming part of the National Highway System of the United States of America...
. I-90 was created and PSH 11 was routed onto the future alignment in 1957. Secondary State Highway 11H (SSH 11H) used the original route and became SR 904 during the 1964 highway renumbering. The Cheney bypass was opened in 1966. After the Space Shuttle
Space Shuttle
The Space Shuttle was a manned orbital rocket and spacecraft system operated by NASA on 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. The system combined rocket launch, orbital spacecraft, and re-entry spaceplane with modular add-ons...
Columbia
Space Shuttle Columbia
Space Shuttle Columbia was the first spaceworthy Space Shuttle in NASA's orbital fleet. First launched on the STS-1 mission, the first of the Space Shuttle program, it completed 27 missions before being destroyed during re-entry on February 1, 2003 near the end of its 28th, STS-107. All seven crew...
disintegrated during re-entry
Space Shuttle Columbia disaster
The Space Shuttle Columbia disaster occurred on February 1, 2003, when shortly before it was scheduled to conclude its 28th mission, STS-107, the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated over Texas and Louisiana during re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere, resulting in the death of all seven crew members...
during STS-107
STS-107
-Mission parameters:*Mass:**Orbiter Liftoff: **Orbiter Landing: **Payload: *Perigee: *Apogee: *Inclination: 39.0°*Period: 90.1 min- Insignia :...
in 2003, killing all seven passengers, the road was renamed the Lt. Col. Michael P. Anderson Memorial Highway after one of the passengers that was raised in Cheney. The Washington State Department of Transportation
Washington State Department of Transportation
The Washington State Department of Transportation , was established in 1905. The agency, led by a Secretary and overseen by the Governor, is a Washington governmental agency that constructs, maintains, and regulates the use of the state's transportation infrastructure...
(WSDOT) is currently planning to widen SR 904 between Cheney and Four Lakes from two to five lanes as part of the route development plan.
Route description
Diamond interchange
A diamond interchange is a common type of road junction, used where a freeway crosses a minor road. The freeway itself is grade-separated from the minor road, one crossing the other over a bridge...
with (I-90), concurrent
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
with (US 395) in Tyler. Traveling northeast over an unnamed creek
Stream
A stream is a body of water with a current, confined within a bed and stream banks. Depending on its locale or certain characteristics, a stream may be referred to as a branch, brook, beck, burn, creek, "crick", gill , kill, lick, rill, river, syke, bayou, rivulet, streamage, wash, run or...
to Babb, the highway becomes parallel with a rail line owned by BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway
The BNSF Railway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. It is one of seven North American Class I railroads and the second largest freight railroad network in North America, second only to the Union Pacific Railroad, its primary...
and used by Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
's Empire Builder
Empire Builder
The Empire Builder is a passenger train route operated by Amtrak in the Midwestern and Northwestern United States. It is Amtrak's busiest long-distance route and busiest daily train, carrying more than 500,000 travelers annually since 2007. Overall, it is the railroad's 10th-busiest line. Before...
route from Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
to Spokane
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
. The BNSF line is paralleled by a Union Pacific rail line while the roadway and railways enter Cheney
Cheney, Washington
Cheney is a city in Spokane County, Washington, United States. The full time resident population was 10,590 as of 2010 census. Eastern Washington University is located in Cheney, and its population grows to approximately 17,600 people on a temporary basis when classes at Eastern Washington...
. Within Cheney, the road is named First Street and passes Eastern Washington University
Eastern Washington University
Eastern Washington University is an American public, coeducational university located in Cheney, Washington.Founded in 1882, the university is academically divided into four colleges: Arts and Letters; Business and Public Administration; Science, Health and Engineering; and Social & Behavioral...
. SR 904 turns north, now parallel to the Eastern Washington Gateway Railroad, at an intersection with the Cheney–Spokane Road, which was the busiest intersection on the highway, with an estimated daily average of 13,000 motorists in 2007. After the intersection, the road turns northwest to exit Cheney and intersect the old alignment of (PSH 11). Shortly afterwards, the roadway enters Four Lakes
Four Lakes, Washington
Four Lakes is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Spokane County, Washington, United States, just southwest of the city of Spokane, and north of Cheney. As of the 2010 census, its population was 512. Both Interstate 90 and SR 904 run through Four Lakes and the junction of the...
, passing Meadow Lake and leaving the Eastern Washington Gateway Railroad before ending at a trumpet interchange with I-90 and US 395.
History
The first state–maintained highway to serve CheneyCheney, Washington
Cheney is a city in Spokane County, Washington, United States. The full time resident population was 10,590 as of 2010 census. Eastern Washington University is located in Cheney, and its population grows to approximately 17,600 people on a temporary basis when classes at Eastern Washington...
using the present-day route of SR 904 was the Central Washington Highway, added to the state highway system
State highways in Washington
In the U.S. state of Washington, the Washington State Department of Transportation maintains a network of over 7000 miles of state highways, including all Interstate and U.S. Highways that pass through the state. The system comprises 8.5% of the state's public road mileage, but carries over half...
in 1913. The highway served Pasco
Pasco, Washington
Pasco is a city in and the county seat of Franklin County, Washington, United States.Pasco is one of three cities that make up the Tri-Cities region of the state of Washington...
, Ritzville
Ritzville, Washington
Ritzville is a city in Adams County, Washington, United States. The population was 1,673 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Adams County.-History:...
, Cheney and Spokane
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
, but the segment between Cheney and Four Lakes
Four Lakes, Washington
Four Lakes is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Spokane County, Washington, United States, just southwest of the city of Spokane, and north of Cheney. As of the 2010 census, its population was 512. Both Interstate 90 and SR 904 run through Four Lakes and the junction of the...
wasn't completed until after 1919. The Central Washington Highway became in a 1923 restructuring of the highway system. Between 1933 and 1939, (US 395) was extended southwest from Spokane to Pasco, via Cheney. The state roads became Primary state highways in 1937 and hence, (PSH 11) was established to replace State Road 11. later became concurrent
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
with US 395 and PSH 11 in 1940 after it was moved to a southern alignment.
On 29 June 1956, President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
signed the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956
Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956
The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, popularly known as the National Interstate and Defense Highways Act , was enacted on June 29, 1956, when Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the bill into law...
into law, establishing a system of freeways that would later become the Interstate Highway System
Interstate Highway System
The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, , is a network of limited-access roads including freeways, highways, and expressways forming part of the National Highway System of the United States of America...
. Included in the system was , which was to replace US 10 and become concurrent with US 395, while bypassing
Bypass (road)
A bypass is a road or highway that avoids or "bypasses" a built-up area, town, or village, to let through traffic flow without interference from local traffic, to reduce congestion in the built-up area, and to improve road safety....
Cheney. PSH 11, US 395 and I-90 were rerouted onto the future bypass in 1957. The former highway from Tyler to Four Lakes became Secondary State Highway 11H (SSH 11H) in 1961; the Cheney bypass opened on 18 November 1966. During the 1964 highway renumbering, SSH 11H became SR 904, part of the new highway system, then named the "sign routes". During STS-107
STS-107
-Mission parameters:*Mass:**Orbiter Liftoff: **Orbiter Landing: **Payload: *Perigee: *Apogee: *Inclination: 39.0°*Period: 90.1 min- Insignia :...
, a NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
Space Shuttle
Space Shuttle
The Space Shuttle was a manned orbital rocket and spacecraft system operated by NASA on 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. The system combined rocket launch, orbital spacecraft, and re-entry spaceplane with modular add-ons...
mission, Lieutenat colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Michael P. Anderson, a Cheney native, along with the rest of the Columbia
Space Shuttle Columbia
Space Shuttle Columbia was the first spaceworthy Space Shuttle in NASA's orbital fleet. First launched on the STS-1 mission, the first of the Space Shuttle program, it completed 27 missions before being destroyed during re-entry on February 1, 2003 near the end of its 28th, STS-107. All seven crew...
's crew, were killed when it disintegrated during re-entry
Space Shuttle Columbia disaster
The Space Shuttle Columbia disaster occurred on February 1, 2003, when shortly before it was scheduled to conclude its 28th mission, STS-107, the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated over Texas and Louisiana during re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere, resulting in the death of all seven crew members...
on 1 February 2003. SR 904 was posthumously renamed to the Lt. Col. Michael P. Anderson Memorial Highway in his honor later that February. The official dedication ceremony was held on 1 August 2003. Increasing traffic accidents and traffic has caused the Washington State Department of Transportation
Washington State Department of Transportation
The Washington State Department of Transportation , was established in 1905. The agency, led by a Secretary and overseen by the Governor, is a Washington governmental agency that constructs, maintains, and regulates the use of the state's transportation infrastructure...
(WSDOT) to create plans to widen the roadway between Cheney and Four Lakes. The plans, later named the route development plan, calls for a five-lane highway with new intersections built on the highway.
Major intersections
The entire highway is located in Spokane CountySpokane County, Washington
Spokane County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington, named after the Spokane tribe. As of the 2010 census the population was 471,221, making it the fourth most populous county in Washington state. The largest city and county seat is Spokane, the second largest city in the state,...
.
| Location | Mile | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyler | 0.00 | Western terminus; Interchange | |
| Four Lakes Four Lakes, Washington Four Lakes is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Spokane County, Washington, United States, just southwest of the city of Spokane, and north of Cheney. As of the 2010 census, its population was 512. Both Interstate 90 and SR 904 run through Four Lakes and the junction of the... |
15.73 | Old PSH 11 | |
| 16.96 | Eastern terminus; Interchange |