Smoother streets ahead

COEUR d'ALENE — The Coeur d'Alene City Council is scheduled to consider a $639,000 contract with Poe Asphalt and Paving, Inc. when it meets at 6 tonight in the Library Community Room.

Todd Feusier, superintendent of the Streets and Engineering Department, said that while asphalt work can present traffic challenges, it is worth it.

"It adds a lot of life to our infrastructure," he said the General Services/Public Works Committee.

This year's chipseal project was advertised for bids in March. Two were received, one by Road Products, LLC., in the amount of $729,680 and the other by Poe Asphalt Paving.

Work is expected to begin in July.

The city has chipsealed 80.1 miles of lane since 2016. This year, it's primarily targeting the northwest quadrant of town, which includes main roads in Hawks Nest and The Landings neighborhoods.

"All roads that have some significant wear," Feusier said. "We feel it's the appropriate time to be in there and get them sealed back up with chip seal."

The city is also looking to chipseal Best Avenue, from Fourth Street to 15th Street.

Kathleen Avenue, which was paved last year, is also on on the list from U.S. 95 to Government Way.

Feusier said the city should chipseal a road a year, maybe two, after it is paved.

"This will give us a longer lifetime of the freshly paved road," he said. "Currently we are trying to salvage the roads at the end of their life. It takes a bit more work."

While the projects are several months away, drivers should expect delays and loose rock chips and avoid driving through fresh oil.

"It's a multi-stage process. It normally takes a few days of chaos and then it's all put back together," Feusier said.

The city had budgeted $1.5 million for the work, so it plans to use the remaining funds for asphalt work in other areas, which pleased Councilman Dan Gookin.

"We want to get ahead of the curve on the streets," he said. "We don't want our streets looking as bad as Spokane."

Councilman Woody McEvers said he was surprised to see streets in The Landings were included in the plans.

"Don't things last 20 years anymore?" he said.

The city doesn't have load limits, which could be a factor.

Feusier said he's been studying that issue for the past six months or so.

"I feel the city of Coeur d'Alene does need load limits," Feusier said.

He plans to bring that discussion before the City Council in the future, according to a city report.

"I want to do as much as we can this year with the budget we have," Feusier said. "My goal is to kind of make a noticeable difference."

McEvers and Gookin recommended the City Council accept the $639,000 bid from Poe Asphalt and Paving, Inc.