Prairie Avenue, roundabouts open

POST FALLS — Traffic is once again moving on Prairie Avenue between State Highway 41 and North Meyer Road in Post Falls following a closure of nearly 20 weeks.

That stretch of the popular arterial reopened Oct. 23 after the installation of roundabouts at Fennicus and Zorros roads, just east of Highway 41. The Zorros roundabout was the latest to be completed.

"Both roundabouts are substantially completed, which allowed for the opening of Prairie Avenue," Post Falls Community Development Director Bob Seale said Monday.

He said traffic is currently flowing well where the roundabouts were installed.

"We have not received any substantial complaints regarding roundabouts in the recent past," Seale said. "It appears that most of the local population has adapted well."

The city of Post Falls has 12 roundabouts and 20 traffic signals in operation. The Idaho Transportation Department operates an additional 19 traffic signals in the River City.

"Roundabouts, traffic signals and stop signs are all tools with the goal of moving traffic in the safest and most efficient manner possible," Seale said.

He said in general, for high-volume intersections that see anywhere from 10,000 to 40,000 vehicles per day, roundabouts are more efficient at moving traffic during off-peak hours and operate about equivalently to traffic signals during peak hour operations at full roadway capacity.

"Roundabouts tend to have the best impact on improving safety with typical results of 90% fewer fatalities, 75% fewer injuries, 37% fewer overall collisions and 40% fewer pedestrian collisions than a signalized intersection," he said, sharing data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and Federal Highway Administration.

Seale said with commercial and residential development along Prairie Avenue in the vicinity of Highway 41, roundabouts have been identified as the preferred option for providing safe local access while maintaining the function of Prairie as a critical arterial corridor and primary truck route.

"The city’s development of roundabouts along Prairie Avenue is a continuation of the roundabouts installed by the Post Falls Highway District along the same corridor," he said.

He noted the Zorros and Fennicus roundabouts were not constructed by the city but by owners/developers of adjoining properties who will be reimbursed through the city's impact fees for most of their costs, making for positive public-private partnerships.

Expansion of Prairie Avenue to a five-lane roadway between 41 and Meyer Road is currently in design and slated for construction in 2028 as part of a joint grant application between the Post Falls Highway District and the city of Post Falls.

"We are seeking input for the future transportation needs and projects," Seale said.

The city of Post Falls will hold an open house regarding the city’s transportation master plan from 4-6 p.m. Nov. 13 at Post Falls City Hall, 408 N. Spokane St. Attendees will have opportunities to learn about plan updates and provide feedback to the project team. The goal of the open house will be to review existing transportation system conditions and growth data. A future meeting will be held to show potential plans incorporating a 20-year traffic projection analysis and to further collect feedback from community members.

Info: bit.ly/PostFallsTMP or postfalls.gov

    After nearly 20 weeks of being closed, Prairie Avenue east from Highway 41 to Meyer Road is once again open following the construction of two roundabouts.