POST FALLS — A project to update the pipeline along Seltice Way between McGuire and Chase roads was approved by the Post Falls City Council on Tuesday.

Andrew Arbini, projects division manager for the Post Falls public works department, said the pavement in that area is in poor condition. He said interim repairs including patching provided a temporary fix to get the roadway through another season.  

“Seltice is a heavily used corridor, and it’s a priority project we’ve been looking at for the last couple of years,” Arbini said. 

Analysis from a geotechnical survey of that stretch of road was used to evaluate the priorities based on its condition. The stretch of road still has the U.S. 10 highway concrete underneath.

Public works staff noted the road discoloration and delamination of layers of the roadway have built up over time to a degree that they're almost having to patch the patches. 

“It's kind of like tree rings, every application that’s occurred,” Arbini said.   

The project was budgeted as a capital improvement project for the city in fiscal years 2024 and 2025. The estimated cost was $10 million. 

J-U-B Engineers will determine the extent of roadway repairs needed across the project area. 

The funding comes from the wastewater capital fund and the streets capital fund for the city. About two-thirds of the budget comes from the wastewater budget and the rest will come from the streets budget. 

The project design is expected to be completed in the spring of 2025.

Councilman Joe Malloy said the two-for-one packaging of the project appealed to him and made the motion to approve the project. The motion was passed unanimously. Samantha Steigleder and Kenny Shove were not present at the city council meeting.