POST FALLS - The new Idaho-Poleline roundabout in Post Falls is expected to be finished today or early next week, while the Interstate 90 interchange near the state line is still in line for a Thanksgiving opening if the weather allows work to continue.

Brandon Squire, project manager for Ralph L. Wadsworth, said construction on the I-90 interchange at Beck Road near Cabela's is progressing nicely, but the weather will dictate the ultimate finish.

"We are pushing for a Thanksgiving opening," he said. "This will be weather-dependent, but we have made some good progress on our asphalt paving and we poured the concrete for the bridge deck over I-90 a few days ago."

In a worst-case scenario, cold weather, steady rains or snow could stall work and push the opening back to spring, said Rob Palus, Post Falls assistant city engineer.

"That would not be unheard of," he said. "It all depends on the windows they have available to work."

The project is the first in Idaho to utilize the State Tax Anticipated Revenue (STAR) legislation approved in 2007. It allows private developers to initially fund projects before being reimbursed through sales tax revenue from the project.

The interchange will allow access from I-90 to The Pointe at Post Falls, which includes Cabela's and Wal-Mart.

Meanwhile, the Idaho-Poleline roundabout, which has detoured traffic around the busy intersection for the past two months, could finish today or early next week if the weather cooperates, Palus said.

He said all that's left is some striping.

"We realize it's been an inconvenience for the past couple months, but it will be nice when it opens up to traffic," Palus said.

Not everyone is happy about the roundabout.

Joe Gentili, who lives on Grants Court, is upset because his backyard borders the southwest corner of the roudabout and he has lost access to his backyard.

"I have a truck back there that will never come out now unless I take out trees," he said.

He said the lack of access will lower his property value and pointed out another homeowner next to a different roundabout at Spokane and Poleline had a driveway installed.

But Bill Melvin, city engineer, said the gate that was constructed was not an approved access.

"The location of the gate would have created an approach that would have been located within a critical operating area of the roundabout and would not have worked for function and safety reasons," Melvin said.

Melvin said Gentili was given written notification of the roundabout prior to construction and that the city worked with him to expand his driveway so vehicles and equipment could be moved.

"This is one of the common difficulties as communities expand their roadways and transportation systems to accommodate the growth in traffic," Melvin said.