SANDPOINT - The Sand Creek Byway is nearly a year ahead of schedule, according to Idaho Transportation Department officials.

Neither ITD nor lead contractor Parsons RCI have set a date for completion of the U.S. Highway 95 bypass, although traffic could be using the new alignment on the Sand Creek peninsula before the year is out if the weather cooperates.

"All in all, it's looking pretty good. We're pretty happy with where we're at," said Shane Webley of Parsons RCI.

The new alignment on the peninsula is paved and striped, but guardrail and signage are still being installed.

"They're going to work until the snow flies and when they quit working, we'll plow it and open it up to traffic," said Ken Sorensen, ITD's resident engineer.

Parsons began constructing the $100 million project in the fall of 2008.

"They were scheduled to get this done Nov. 11 of 2012. So we're going to be 10 months ahead of schedule," Sorensen said.

The bike path on the east side of Sand Creek is paved, although Sorensen said that facility likely won't open when the highway does because a pedestrian structure at the east end of Cedar Street Bridge remains unfinished.

"We'll be taking delivery of modules for the pedestrian structure in the next couple of weeks and that work will start mid- to end of November," said Webley.

Contractors were putting the finishing touches on a brick-inlaid concrete wall near the Sandpoint Depot on Thursday.

The welded-wire baskets on the mainline retaining wall will eventually be planted horizontally and vertically with clematis, honeysuckle vine and climbing rose.

The amount of fine detail and aesthetic touches could be unmatched compared to other ITD projects. Barbara Babic, the department's Panhandle spokeswoman, said all projects have a few cosmetic enhancements, but not as many as the bypass.

"I think the byway has them beat," she said. "There's quite a bit on the byway."

The project is receiving rave reviews from public officials.

"It's absolutely spectacular," said Sandpoint Councilwoman Carrie Logan.

Bonner County Commissioner Lewis Rich said byway naysayers predicted the project would ruin Sand Creek, but he contends it has added to its allure.

"I think you've possibly made it more beautiful," Rich told project officials on Thursday.

Tens of thousands of willows have been planted along the creek and four types of wetlands sod have been used to form wildlife habitat zones. A juvenile bald eagle sat perched in a tree near the depot as contractors worked below.

Rich said he has heard nothing but positive comments about the down-lighting on the Sand Creek Bridge, which was done with blue light-emitting diodes.

"The comments about the blue lights have been overwhelming," he said.

Parsons officials credited the community for the look of the bypass, which was influenced greatly by a citizens design advisory committee.

"We built what's on the plans. The community as a whole should be proud of what you guys built," said Webley.

Webley said Parsons builds projects all over the globe, but the Sand Creek Byway ranks as one of the more memorable projects the company has constructed.

"I've never been involved with a job this unique, in this unique of a setting," he said.