POST FALLS - The road leading to the Greensferry overpass is getting to be a straight shot.

After 12 years of discussing the much-anticipated project over Interstate 90, the planning dominoes are now dropping one by one with construction expected to start next year.

"At this point, we're not talking. We're walking down the road," said Tom Lien, executive director of the Post Falls Urban Renewal Agency, which is taking the lead and collaborating with the city on the project.

"Once construction starts, it should take less than a year to complete."

The project, which will be between the Highway 41 and the Seltice Way interchanges and is estimated to cost between $17 million and $19 million, has been touted by advocates to improve traffic mobility and emergency response in Post Falls. It will include pedestrian lanes.

An engineer for the project is expected to be approved at the May 16 URA meeting. The engineer will develop a concept plan before right-of-way acquisition and the final design phase starts this fall.

"We don't know if any businesses will have to relocate - that may happen with one or two - but we won't know until we have the concept design," Lien said. "We may have to put in more roads for property access, so that may be beneficial to them."

Lien said Knudtsen Chevrolet, the largest business in the corridor, won't be affected by the project.

The project is included in the 2002 East Post Falls Urban Renewal District plan, which in December was extended by the City Council from 2015 to 2022 to pay for the project. In urban renewal districts, incremental taxes that are paid based on the higher assessed values after development are remitted to the agency and are, in turn, paid back to the district proponent for cost reimbursement for infrastructure.

Lien said the East Post Falls District has $4.6 million in the bank to jumpstart the project. The URA has received a commitment for a $13 million loan from Washington Trust Bank. The loan will likely close next year, Lien said.

"Washington Trust Bank has experience loaning to URAs," Lien said. "It's not a collateral-based loan, but a revenue-based loan."

Meanwhile, construction of the Spencer Street extension from north of Ponderosa Elementary to Seltice Way, another project in the East Post Falls district, may be delayed due to URA funding going toward the Greensferry overpass first, Lien said.

An appraiser has evaluated the property for right-of-way negotiations that are about to start.

"To get funding for the overpass, we have to maintain a bank balance and, if we start on Spencer, that could have an adverse effect on the overpass," said Lien. "We're still comfortable that we can do both projects. It's just a matter of timing."

The Spencer Street extension construction cost, not including right of way, is estimated at $1.6 million.