Project under river in Post Falls expected to finish in January

Avista replacing natural gas line near bridge

POST FALLS — Work is underway to replace a steel natural gas line affixed to the Spokane Street Bridge over the Spokane River in Post Falls, providing natural gas to customers since 1972.

The 43-year-old pipe is being replaced with a 6-inch polyethylene line that will be enclosed in 10-inch steel casing and buried a minimum of 25 feet under the Spokane River.

The entry point for the new pipe is the east end of Q’emiln Park and the exit point is on the north side of the Spokane River near the Post Falls water tower.

The work is being done using horizontal directional drilling which is preferred by regulatory agencies for installing natural gas pipelines under wetlands, waterbodies and other ecologically sensitive areas. A drill rig is being used to bore a 16-inche hole under the river. The rig will be attached to the steel pipe and pull it through the bored hole.

The project is expected to be completed in January. Repairs to the work sites in Q’emiln Park and near the water tower will be performed in spring 2016. Spokane Street will also be returned to its pre-work condition as soon as possible.