POST FALLS - The intersection of Prairie and McGuire north of Post Falls - known for vehicle collisions - will become a roundabout after this summer.

The intersection just east of Kootenai County's waste transfer station will be closed from today through the end of August for construction.

"It will be a pain for awhile," said Kelly Brownsberger, supervisor of the Post Falls Highway District. "But once it's done, it should be better and safer."

Brownsberger said he's aware of a fatal accident and a few that resulted in serious injuries at intersection in the past two years.

Traffic on Prairie is required to stop; McGuire is a through street.

"For some reason, people have a hard time stopping (on Prairie)," Brownsberger said. "They either drive through it or pull out in front of people."

The roundabout will be larger than ones in Post Falls and Coeur d'Alene to accommodate larger traffic that utilize the transfer station.

Hayden, Poleline, Chase and Corbin will serve as the detour routes and alternate ways to access the transfer station.

Roger Saterfiel, the county's solid waste director, said he supports the roundabout and doesn't expect much of an impact on the use of the transfer station.

"The station is more user friendly (than the Coeur d'Alene facility), so that will keep people going there, even though they may have to go around to get to it," Saterfiel said.

The project will cost about $520,000. Federal stimulus funding will pay $500,000 off the cost. The remainder will be covered by local funding, but Brownsberger said other funds could be obtained by the end of the year.

Interstate Concrete and Asphalt from Coeur d'Alene is the contractor.

Other closures in Post Falls include:

• Bay Street at Seltice Way will be closed to through traffic for paving today from 6-9 a.m.

• A lane of Third Avenue from Bay to Greensferry will be closed Tuesday through Thursday from 6 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. for paving.