Summer street maintenance begins
Tim Martin | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 15 years AGO
Summer projects begin in May - but how do they all get completed?
My response is that the city of Coeur d'Alene has very talented, dedicated people in both the Street Maintenance and Engineering departments. What is the trick to keeping our streets in good shape? The one-word answer is simple: resources.
City Council members have repeatedly, year after year, affirmed street maintenance and safety as one of their top priorities during annual budget retreats.
Many of our arterials, such as Fourth Street from Lakeside Avenue to Kathleen, Best Avenue, Northwest Boulevard, Ramsey Road from Appleway to Prairie Avenue, and Government Way from Harrison to Dalton Avenue, have seen a series of improvements such as stormwater retention, curb and gutter additions, and street widening, over the last seven to nine years. Last year, the S-curve on Kathleen Avenue was straightened and resurfaced where it intersects the Prairie Trail. A traffic signal and a crosswalk were included in that reconstruction project.
This summer, the main focus for overlay will be the asphalt paving of three streets that have a gravel surface: Mary Lane (off 15th Street); and 12th and 13th streets (between Steiner and Gilbert). Another exciting project to start this summer is the extension of Marie Avenue to Ramsey Road. This will connect Marie Avenue to the Howard/Neider corridor.
With the summer repair and patching season approaching, Street Maintenance Department crews will focus on major streets. Crews will initially concentrate on the following areas:
• Kathleen Avenue (East of Government Way)
• 15th Street (Sherman to Dalton)
• Ironwood Drive (U.S. 95 to Government Way)
• Hanley Avenue (Courcelles Parkway to U.S. 95)
• Atlas Road
• Sherman Avenue
Many other streets in addition to these will be repaired later this summer. For example, crews will begin striping, painting crosswalks, and refurbishing sidewalks to meet ADA compliance guidelines.
The second year of the five-year ADA Sidewalk Hazard Abatement Program will take place on the west side of Government Way (from Harrison to Northwest Boulevard), and on Lakeside Avenue (from Eighth Street to 15th Street). Weekly project progress reports will also be on the Street Maintenance website.
Please remember that road maintenance work is demanding and dangerous. We'll do the best job possible to alert motorists to our work zones.
We ask for the public's patience - please also obey work zone signage and be extra cautious in our work areas. In return, we promise to do our best to ensure your safety and to not unnecessarily delay you.
For information, please call 769-2233, or visit http://streets.cdaid.org/.
Tim Martin is the street superintendent for the city of Coeur d'Alene.
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