Greensferry overpass recognized on national scale

Engineering group honors city, local firm, urban renewal agency

By BRIAN WALKER

Staff Writer

POST FALLS — The latest route that connects the northern side of Post Falls to the south has been recognized on a national level.

The American Council of Engineering Companies honored agencies behind the Greensferry overpass with the first-place award in the Transportation Category of Engineering Excellence during the group's recent reception in Boise.

"The Greensferry overpass means a lot to the city and Post Falls Urban Renewal Agency," said Brad Marshall, senior project manager with JUB Engineers.

The award was given in recognition of engineering achievements that demonstrate a high degree of merit and ingenuity and contribute to technical, economic and social advancement.

It was accepted by Jerry Baltzell, urban renewal chairman; Diane Fountain, URA executive director; and Jay Hassell, JUB Engineers.

The overpass opened in November 2015.

The city originally requested approval from the Federal Highway Administration to allow a full interchange.

When that request wasn’t granted, the city turned to the URA to help fund the project.

After 20 years of discussion, deliberation and denied interchange requests, JUB worked with the URA and city to develop a project feasibility study

and detailed cost estimate for an overpass with no interstate on and off ramps.

The overpass solution was approved by the Idaho Transportation Department and FHWA.

The URA then put in place tax-increment financing funded through a low-interest loan with a regional bank.

The overpass includes two lanes in each direction, a center turn lane, bicycle lanes and sidewalks on both sides. It improves connectivity, traffic mobility and emergency response time between the residential and business areas north and south of Interstate 90, allowing for more economic potential on both sides of the freeway.

In the first year, the overpass accommodated an average 14,000 daily trips. As many as 35,000 trips are anticipated over the next 20 years.

The overpass was dedicated to "all who serve" and features flags on both sides.