POST FALLS — Bicyclists and pedestrians along Highway 41 will soon find a portion of it easier going.

A paved trail — on the east side of the highway on the half-mile stretch from Seltice Way to Mullan Avenue and under Interstate 90 — will be constructed this spring.

"It will be constructed as weather allows and should be done by mid- to late June," said Rob Palus, Post Falls assistant city engineer. "All that is there now is a well-worn dirt trail, so this should really benefit bicyclists and pedestrians."

W.M. Winkler Co. won the construction contract for $518,132. The amount does not including design and engineering. The engineer's estimated construction cost was $590,000. Five bids were received.

The trail will be 8.5 feet wide.

The city received a $500,000 Community Choices grant from the state to fund most of the project. The urban renewal agency also contributed $300,000 in matching funds.

"The grant is what really brought this project to reality," Palus said.

The city council is expected to approve an agreement tonight with HMH, LLC for construction engineering and inspection services during construction for an amount not to exceed $97,000.

Palus said $160,000 of the construction cost is incurred by having to cut into the slanted concrete erosion wall under the freeway and building a vertical wall in its place. The project will also include a pedestrian signal at the intersection of Ross Point and Seltice at the southern end.

Another Post Falls urban renewal-funded project, the Spencer Street extension, will be completed this spring.

While most of the $1.2 million construction project just west of Dairy Queen and south of Seltice Way was completed in November, one of the last pieces, BNSF Railway's railroad crossing, wasn't. Therefore, accessing Seltice from Spencer is not yet possible.

A Post Falls project to prepare Seventh Avenue from Compton to Henry for an increase in traffic will also be constructed this year. The project will include widening for parking, sidewalks and curb and gutter.