Project to address Hauser flooding

Flooding threats in Hauser are expected to subside soon.

The Post Falls Highway District is expected to complete a flood mitigation project along Hauser Lake Road on the north side of the lake early next week, said Lynn Humphreys, highway district board member.

"We're replacing culverts to accommodate more water and raising the road bed so it doesn't flood as in years past," Humphreys said. "This will mitigate drainage issues all across the north end of the lake. There's a wetlands area so we needed to have some additional elevation in that area."

Flooding from spring runoff or heavy rain across Hauser Lake Road on the north end of the lake has been a problem for several years, Humphreys said.

Work on the project began last week.

The road has been open to school bus and emergency traffic, and at night and during weekends. Other daytime traffic has been restricted during the project.

"We appreciate the patience of the public and the road will be better in short order," Humphreys said.

Another Post Falls Highway District project that has had major impacts on traffic - improving the intersection and surrounding area of Prairie Avenue and Pleasant View Road - is expected to wrap up on Tuesday, Humphreys said.

The intersection has been closed for three weeks and traffic has been detoured to Beck, McGuire and Poleline during the reconstruction project.

"We've leveled the intersection out to make it safer," Humphreys said. "Over a period of time, the settling of the roadway caused a hump and, at 50 mph, it was a concern of ours. It needed to be repaired before there was a serious accident."

The widening of Prairie Avenue on the Rathdrum Prairie will resume next year, with construction planned on the mile-long stretch from Huetter to Meyer.

Traffic signals will be installed at both Huetter and Meyer.

"All of the right of way has been secured and the project is in final design," Humphreys said.

The project, expected to cost about $7 million, will go out to bid in the spring. The highway district will be required to fund a 7.34 percent match to the federal funding for the project.

The project is expected to be completed next year.

The long-range plan is to widen Prairie all the way to Pleasant View in future years.