COEUR d’ALENE — Work is expected to begin this spring on an Atlas Road improvement project that will reduce traffic congestion at the Coeur d’Alene Industrial Park while enhancing the city’s popular trail system.

An $804,500 state grant recently awarded to the city will shoulder the costs of new signalization at Atlas Road and Industrial Loop and extend the Atlas Trail 730 feet north to connect with the Prairie Trail.

There is no local funding match requirement for the Local Highway Technical Assistance Council (LHTAC) grant.

Although the new traffic signals at Industrial Loop will be in close proximity to existing signals at Kathleen Avenue, city engineer Chris Bosley said the intersections will be synchronized to alleviate traffic backup.

Upgrades to the Atlas Loop intersection will also include a left turn bay for northbound traffic, as well as installation of curb.

Bosley said the LHTAC grant did not require a local funding match because the project is “shovel ready,” did not require additional right-of-way acquisition and included traffic and trail improvements. The project was ranked No. 1 out of 92 proposals submitted for LHTAC consideration.