Prairie goes wide

Traffic snarls are ahead on Prairie Avenue.

The mile stretch along the busy east-west corridor from Huetter to Meyer will be closed Monday through Oct. 1 as the road is widened from two lanes to five.

"Only emergency vehicles and residents in that area will be allowed access," said Lynn Humphreys, chairman of the Post Falls Highway District. "We're trying to create a travel surface that's safer and has easier access across the prairie."

One lane in each direction will be open after Oct. 1 until the project is finished late in the fall or next spring, depending on the weather.

"Motorists should avoid the area (starting next week), if possible, and should expect delays after Oct. 1," Humphreys said.

Hayden Avenue will be the primary detour route during the project.

The construction portion of the project, which will be done by Interstate Concrete and Asphalt, will cost $2.7 million. Federal funding is paying for most of the project, which requires a 7.34 percent local match from the Post Falls Highway District.

The total cost of the entire project, including right of way acquisition and design, is about $6 million.

The project west of Hayden will include 5-foot bike lanes and 5-foot sidewalks on both sides of Prairie and traffic signals at the intersections of Huetter and Meyer.

"The project will mirror what has already been widened from U.S. 95 to Huetter," Humphreys said.

Prairie from Ramsey to Huetter was widened several years ago.

Humphreys said funding for widening the third phase from Meyer to Highway 41 has not been secured and will be years down the road.

Humphreys said the district has started talks with the city of Post Falls and the Kootenai Metropolitan Planning Organization on which agencies will be responsible for helping fund the third phase and how much. He said it's possible developers could also help fund that project.

The plan is to eventually widen all of Prairie Avenue on the Rathdrum Prairie.