POST FALLS - Two road projects that will improve pedestrian safety and traffic circulation in busy areas of Post Falls will extend into the school year.

Mullan Avenue west of Spokane Street is being rehabilitated to include a new road, sidewalks and gutters.

"We're modernizing that stretch of Mullan," said Robert Palus, assistant city engineer. "It has seen better days."

The library, Frederick Post Kindercenter, New Vision High School, Boys and Girls Club of Kootenai County and school administration office are along the stretch, which is expected to be completed by early October.

"We very excited about the project," said Post Falls School Superintendent Jerry Keane. "It fits in nicely with the opening of the Boys and Girls Club this fall.

"It will definitely be a challenge to get kids to Frederick Post Kindergarten and New Vision for the first month of school. However, it will help with traffic around our schools very significantly for years to come."

Meanwhile, a roundabout intersection at Poleline and Idaho is expected to be finished in late October.

Palus said motorists' patience with both projects will be needed, especially when school starts after Labor Day.

"Our preference would have been to have them done prior to the start of school, but we ended up getting a late start," Palus said, referring to utility relocation, right of way hurdles and other factors.

Mullan will remain open to through traffic, but motorists are encouraged to avoid that area. On the roundabout project, 16th and 21st avenues will serve as detour routes around the intersection.

The Mullan project will also add paved parking spots in front of Frederick Post. Striping for bike lanes will be added in the future.

The total cost of the project is $250,000. It is mostly being funded with city general fund dollars. The Boys and Girls Club is chipping in $18,000 to pay for improvements in front of the nonprofit's facility under construction.

The cost of the roundabout at Poleline and Idaho is $244,000 with the city and Prairie Falls Development, LLC, the developer of the Fieldstone subdivision, splitting the cost. The city is also funding $294,000 in additional improvements along Idaho from 20th Avenue to Poleline.

"This project will complete pedestrian improvements from Bogey (north of Poleline) all the way to Idaho Street," Palus said.

The roundabout will be the third along Poleline.