COEUR d'ALENE - A portion of Fourth Street in Coeur d'Alene will remain closed for another week while city employees wrap up construction.

Work began last week at the intersection of Fourth Street and Montana Avenue. Coeur d'Alene Street Superintendent Tim Martin told The Press Monday that the focus of the construction is removing the brick that previously made up the intersection.

"We had some brick failure and some of them around the water valves had just worn out," Martin said. "They were getting grooves in them and it was very rough."

Prior to the construction, Martin said, city officials directed his department to see if replacing the brick was feasible, or if concrete would be a better alternative. For maintenance reasons alone, Martin said colored concrete was chosen.

The project will be completed today, but the concrete needs to cure for approximately 7 days.

That means Fourth Street, from Montana Avenue to Foster Avenue, will remain closed until Aug. 17, Martin said. Motorists are encouraged to use Government Way or Seventh Street as alternative routes while the road is closed.

Detour routes are clearly marked, and local access to the construction area is allowed. Local businesses in the area will remain open and parking on Fourth Street has not been affected.