Spencer extension delayed until spring

POST FALLS — The Spencer Street extension project in Post Falls won't likely be completed until spring now instead of this winter as earlier expected.

While most of the $1.2 million construction project just west of Dairy Queen and south of Seltice Way was completed in November, one of the last pieces, BNSF Railway's railroad crossing, wasn't. Therefore, accessing Seltice from Spencer is not yet possible.

"BNSF does its own schedule for the crossing construction," said Tom Lien, executive director of the Post Falls Urban Renewal Agency, which is funding most of the Spencer project. "We could not get any form of anticipated date other than maybe in the next few months. They are trying to schedule a crew to come in and do that work."

Lien said his best estimate on a projected finish date is early spring, especially with snow on the ground.

Spencer from Second Avenue to Potlatch at the northeast corner of the Lucky Pines mobile home park — one block — has opened and connected to Potlatch.

The entire Spencer extension is less than a half a mile. It is intended to provide quicker and easier access to Seltice Way for Pine Villa residents living in the vicinity of Ponderosa Elementary and allow development to occur in a vacant pocket of east Post Falls.

Traffic signals will be installed at the future intersection of Spencer and Seltice.

"The signal equipment is scheduled to be installed in January," Lien said.

Hydroseeding of the swales along Spencer will be done in the spring.

The total project cost, including rights of way acquisition, is $1.8 million. The URA is funding $1.7 million of the cost, while the city funded improving a small part of Spencer that is outside the urban renewal boundary with street impact fees.

T. LaRiviere Equipment and Excavation Inc. performed most of the work.

• Meanwhile, the bike and pedestrian trail project along the east side of Highway 41 from Seltice Way to Mullan Avenue — another urban renewal project — will be constructed in the spring.

The project will be funded by a $500,000 federal grant administered by the Idaho Transportation Department through the Community Choices for Idaho program. The remaining $300,000 will be funded by the URA.