Prairie Trail from the Centennial Trail/Prairie Trail junction to Golf Course Road is closed to the public as a crew from Avista is digging trenches along the route for underground power and gas lines. 

The work began Thursday and will continue until Feb. 28. 

“It’s all part of the I-90 widening project,” said Coeur d’Alene Trails Coordinator/Urban Forester Monte McCully. “We normally close trails a couple of days, but there's a lot of work to do, and that’s why it’s closed until the end of the month.” 

McCully said the city’s water department also had to “tear up a portion of the trail” to put in waterlines. The underground power lines are replacing the above-ground lines that run along the westbound lane of the freeway near the trail. 

A detour route is available for trailer users, guiding them down Northwest Boulevard and back to the trail south of the interstate.  

McCully cautions people from cutting through the construction area. 

“There will be open trenches and heavy equipment in the area, so it’s not safe to do that,” he said. “I’ve seen people running across the freeway, which is definitely not a good thing to do.” 

McCully said the Prairie Trail closure is one of many closures planned for the coming days. 

“The eastbound trail along Seltice to Northwest Boulevard will be closed sometime this spring through the better part of the year to widen it,” he said. “There will be several more closures over the next two years — but we’ll do our best to keep a trail open at all times.” 

City Councilor Christie Wood said she hopes the work on Prairie Trail does not extend past the end of the month. 

“We don’t like our trails closed — so many people use them — I use them,” she said. “We need to be very watchful and make sure the process goes smoothly and hold the State to its timeline.” 

Tabitha Kraack, executive director of the North Idaho Centennial Trail, said she supports the work underway on the Prairie Trail.

"It's one of those projects we have to let happen, and this is a good time of the year to get it done," she said. "There was another part of the trail — behind Honda that needed attention. ITD is holding off on that until after the marathon on Memorial Day weekend and we are very grateful of that. They have been phenomenal to work with."

    An Avista crew is digging trenches along Prairie Trail.
  

    Avista workers laid 800 feet of 4-inch PVC pipe on Thursday that will encase power lines.
  

    Steel plates will cover open trenches to prevent workers and any unauthorized people from falling into them.