SANDPOINT - Dredging in Sand Creek between the Bridge and Cedar street bridges is ahead of schedule and could by completed by Dec. 13, according to the Idaho Transportation Department.

The dredging forecast for the U.S. Highway 95 bypass should be welcome news to downtown merchants, who have called on ITD to cease work on Saturdays so holiday shoppers have optimum access to stores and parking.

"What's really been advantageous this week is the 20s at night," said ITD resident engineer Ken Sorensen, referring to last week's dry, cool weather.

The cool weather has also muted the heavy organic odors associated with dredging in the creek, Sorensen said.

Dredging is expected to continue today, which means part of the parking and right lane of North First Avenue will be closed so dump trucks can blend in with traffic. Parking in the Main Street alley is also prohibited during the dredging operations.

Sorensen said testing for hydrocarbons in the creek bottom is ongoing.

"We've been watching that area down there," he said.

Construction hours are from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Saturday's work hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Signs will be posted to help direct traffic to businesses and the city lot, which downtown visitors can use free of charge during the month of December.

The Sand Creek Byway's piling subcontractor is expected to continue mobilizing equipment at ITD's snow storage area at the north end of the Long Bridge. Pre-piling excavation work is also being planned, which means trucks will be accessing U.S. 95. Trucks will also be hauling in the 60-foot long pilings from Sagle.

Pile driving is expected to commence in the coming weeks. Bob Clucas, senior project manager for lead contractor Parsons RCI, said pile driving for the byway's four bridges is anticipated to be fairly constant for at least the first year and a half.

Bypass updates

• No weekly update meetings will be held on Dec. 11 or Dec. 25

• The next meeting is set for 11 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 18 at ITD's Transportation Information Office on Second Avenue.

• The weekly construction update can also be found on the ITD Web page. Point your browser to www.itd.idaho.gov/project/d1 and look under the "Projects Currently Under Construction" header.

• Call the transportation office at 265-0897 if you have project questions.