North Spokane bridge renamed for firefighter
- The Washington State Transportation Commission voted April 22 in Walla Walla to rename the North Spokane Corridor bridge over Wandermere Road for Lt./Paramedic Cody Scott Traber of Fire District 9. - The new name covers future U.S. Highway 395 mileposts 167.25 to 167.40 in both directions, marking the bridge where Traber died on Aug. 26, 2021, during a brush-fire response. - The vote followed a proposal from Spokane County Fire District 9 and regional fire leaders, with state sign installation requested next. (wstc.wa.gov)
Washington state officials have renamed the North Spokane Corridor bridge over Wandermere Road for fallen firefighter Lt./Paramedic Cody Scott Traber. (krem.com) (wstc.wa.gov) The Washington State Transportation Commission approved the designation unanimously on April 22 at its meeting in Walla Walla. The official name is the “Lieutenant/Paramedic Cody Scott Traber Memorial Bridge.” (wstc.wa.gov 1) (wstc.wa.gov 2) The resolution applies to the future U.S. Highway 395 bridge above Wandermere Road at mileposts 167.25 to 167.40, northbound and southbound. The commission also asked the Washington State Department of Transportation to install signs “as soon as possible.” (wstc.wa.gov 1) (wstc.wa.gov 2) Traber died on Aug. 26, 2021, after climbing the bridge to get a better view while crews responded to a reported brush fire near Highway 395 and Wandermere Road in Spokane County. Fire officials later said crews found no wildfire in the area. (krem.com) (wstc.wa.gov) The naming request came from Spokane County Fire District 9 and the Greater Spokane Fire and Emergency Services region. The bridge was chosen because it is the place where Traber died in the line of duty. (krem.com) (wstc.wa.gov) Traber served 18 years with Spokane County Fire District 9 and had also worked with Stevens County Fire District 1, the Cheney Fire Department and the Washington Department of Natural Resources. He is survived by his wife, Allisyn, and four young children. (krem.com) (krem.com) At the commission meeting, Fire District 9 Chief Matt Vinci said Traber was known for “his calm presence under pressure” and for mentoring other firefighters. Assistant Chief Nathan Jeffries said Traber helped build the district’s dozer program and deployed on wildfire and disaster responses around the country. (krem.com) The commission’s vote turns that stretch of bridge into a permanent public memorial on one of Spokane’s major north-south routes. The next visible change will be the state highway signs carrying Traber’s name. (wstc.wa.gov) (wstc.wa.gov)
