Beck Road project to start

POST FALLS - Beck Road on the west side of Post Falls is going to get straightened out.

The $1.1 million Post Falls Highway District project will straighten the two 'S' curves on the road on the north side of Seltice Way near Stateline Speedway. The realignment of Beck will move it 220 feet to the east.

The south end of Beck Road will be closed to all traffic from April 5 to May 31. Detours will be via Pleasantview to Prairie so access can be made at the north end of Beck.

"The highway district has been working on realigning the intersection at Beck Road and Seltice Way since 1998," said Kelly Brownsberger, the district's road supervisor.

The railroad crossing at the intersection will be four lanes with gates, lights and a raised island installed, resembling the crossing at Pleasantview north of Seltice.

The highway district received $355,000 to pay for safety improvements to the crossing from the Idaho Transportation Department's State Railroad Crossing Protection Account. The remaining cost will be paid for by the highway district.

Beck Road will be a major future arterial, coming off a future Interstate 90 interchange that will serve the Pointe at Post Falls project anchored by Cabela's.

The interchange project and that of the highway district are separate.

Foursquare Properties, the Pointe's developer, is responsible for the interchange project working with the Federal Highway Administration for approval.

Post Falls City Administrator Eric Keck said it's unclear exactly when construction will start on the interchange, but it's expected within the next year.

"We should learn more about the Beck Road interchange project within the next few months as to its disposition," Keck said.

For more information on the highway district project, call 765-3717 from 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday.