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Post Falls plans for budget hearing, charts road construction

by CAROLYN BOSTICK
Staff Writer | August 7, 2024 1:07 AM

POST FALLS — The Post Falls City Council meeting concluded on a somber note Tuesday as Mayor Ron Jacobson acknowledged the absence of Councilman Joe Malloy, who was recently injured in a motorcycle accident on his way to work. Jacobson expressed concern for Malloy's condition and used the opportunity to remind residents to be vigilant for motorcycles and children enjoying the good weather.

Earlier in the session, the council unanimously approved a resolution to hold the fiscal year 2025 budget hearing Aug. 20. This hearing will include discussions on fees and comparisons with current and past budgets.

Post Falls civil engineer Rob Palus presented an overview of the State of Idaho's Transportation Improvement Program for District One, covering 2025-31. The program allocates $595.4 million for the district, with the majority earmarked for construction projects.

Palus detailed several significant projects affecting Post Falls. The Chase Road project, initially slated for 2028, has been moved up to 2025 thanks to a $1.2 million grant secured in 2019. Prairie Avenue will see expansion in 2028, transforming into a five-lane road with roundabouts and improved pedestrian access. The Prairie Trail Underpass project, though outside city jurisdiction, will create a bicycle underpass on Prairie Avenue in 2025.

Other notable projects include a roundabout at Lancaster and Huetter, safety updates to the Huetter/Union Pacific Railroad crossing, and the eagerly anticipated Pleasant View Interchange. The latter, a $45 million project set for 2025, is expected to significantly improve safety and reduce congestion in the area.

Palus also highlighted major interstate projects, including improvements to the I-90/SH41 interchange, widening of I-90 from Highway 41 to U.S. 95, and upgrades to the I-90/U.S.95 interchange. These projects represent substantial investments in the region's transportation infrastructure.

Jacobson expressed particular enthusiasm for the Pleasant View/Highway 53 exchange, describing the current situation as a "deathtrap" and welcoming the approved improvements.