Numerous construction projects ready to go

If agencies can muster the funds, this is a plum year to launch road construction projects.

Area cities, highway districts and the Idaho Transportation Department plan to unleash 39 projects throughout Kootenai County this spring and summer.

"A lot of the material costs have gone down, plus there's not a whole lot of development going on," said Kelly Brownsberger, road supervisor for the Post Falls Highway District. "There's substantial savings - in the millions of dollars - on the bigger projects so more projects can be done because the cost of materials and labor are down this year."

For instance, the cost for liquid asphalt for chip sealing is about $20 a ton cheaper this year than last year.

Stimulus funding has also spurred projects.

Among those getting federal assistance is a roundabout at the intersection of Prairie Avenue and McGuire Road. Brownsberger said the stimulus will fund $500,000 of the total $575,000 cost.

Brownsberger said the exact start date on construction is still unclear, but it is expected to be this summer.

Most projects will start later this spring or summer, but the highway district's Beck Road realignment project north of Seltice Way has kicked off the construction season with dirt work under way.

The Kootenai Metropolitan Planning Organization has posted a map and description of the countywide projects at www.kmpo.net.

"The goal of the map is to reduce traffic congestion by alerting drivers where construction is taking place, so that they can arrange to take other routes," said Staci Lehman, KMPO spokesperson.

Here is a listing of the other area projects by agency:

IDAHO TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT

• I-90 bridge resurfacing - Three bridges from State Line to Idaho Street; start spring, completion summer

• U.S. 95 from Wyoming to Highway 53 - Widening and reconstruct; start spring, completion fall

LAKES HIGHWAY DISTRICT

• Diagonal Road overlay - Widening and overlay from Sturgeon Road to just west of Ramsey Road; start summer, completion summer

• Lancaster Road from Rimrock to English Point - Reconstruction; start summer, completion fall

• Lower East Hayden Lake Road - Dike to Half Mile Lane rehabilitation and overlay; start summer, completion summer

• Avondale Loop and area streets - Water line install and paving on Avondale, Avon Trafalgar, Kensington, Merman, Brighton and Thames; start spring, completion fall

WORLEY HIGHWAY DISTRICT

• Conkling Road east of U.S. 95 to Larsen Road - Install asphalt base 1.25 miles; start summer, completion summer

• Cougar Gulch Road from U.S. 95 to Meadowbrook - Chip seal 3.9 miles; start summer, completion summer

• Elder Road from U.S. 95 to Washington line - Cement reinforced asphalt base 4.3 miles; start summer, completion summer

• Greensferry Road from Cougar Gulch Road to district boundary - Chip seal 3.16 acres; start summer, completion summer

• Kidd Island Road-Hull Loop intersection - Reconstruction; start summer, completion summer

• Loffs Bay-Rockford Bay west intersection to Rockford Bay east intersection - Chip seal 2.25 miles; start summer, completion summer

• Stach Road from Cougar Gulch Road to end of pavement - 1.8-mile fog seal; start summer, completion summer

COEUR d'ALENE

• 15th Street-Harrison Avenue - Install new signal; start spring, completion summer

• Howard Street-Kathleen Avenue - Install new signal; start spring, completion fall

• Marie Avenue extension - Extend street west to Ramsey Road; start spring, completion summer

• Mary Lane from 15th to 17th - Reconstruction; start summer, completion fall

POST FALLS

• 21st Avenue from Spokane to Idaho - Overlay; start summer, completion summer

• Frederick Street from Railroad to Fourth - Modernize and widen; start spring, completion summer

• Greensferry Road from Rodkey Drive to Plaza Drive - Improvements, plus overlay from Seltice Way to Third Avenue; start spring, completion summer

• Maplewood-Ridgewood to First Avenue - Overlay; start fall, completion fall

• Pleasant View Road - Improvements between I-90 and Expo Parkway; start summer, completion fall

• Ridgewood Drive-Ponderosa Boulevard to First Avenue - Overlay; start summer, completion summer

• William Street from Railroad Avenue to Fourth Avenue - Modernize and widen; start spring, completion summer

• Pinewood-Ponderosa Boulevard to First Avenue - Overlay; start fall, completion fall

RATHDRUM

• Highway 41 and Wright Street - Realignment, add left-turn lanes; start summer, complete winter

• Mill Street from Highway 53 to Main - Construct raised center median; start summer, completion fall

EAST SIDE HIGHWAY DISTRICT

• Fernan Hill Road - Overlay from city limits east one mile; start summer, completion fall

• O'Gara Road from Highway 97 to Chief Road - Overlay 1.3 miles; start summer, completion fall

• Fernan Lake Road (mile post 2.2 to 10.7) - Reconstruction; start now, completion 2011

• Bull Run Road - Restoration from the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes crossing southeast 730 feet; start summer, completion fall

DALTON GARDENS

• Hanley Avenue - Upgrade and install bike paths on both sides between Davenport and 15th Street and between Government Way and Fourth Street; start summer, completion summer