Idaho Street road job starts today

Work starts today on the reconstruction of West Idaho Street in Kalispell.

Crews first will remove curbs and sidewalks that need to be replaced along the north side of the highway.

Crews will start at First Avenue West North and work their way west.

The Montana Department of Transportation says drivers should expect westbound traffic to be reduced to one lane with delays possible and workers and equipment on or near the roadway.

The overall project will resurface about six-tenths of a mile of West Idaho Street from just west of U.S. 93 to just east of Meridian Road.

A $1.699 million, 50-day contract for the work was awarded last fall to Riverside Contracting Inc. of Missoula.

“Starting next week they will come in and start pouring new curb and gutters on the north side of the road,” said project manager Steve Meyers of the Montana Department of Transportation.

Crews then will mill five inches off the surface of the north side of the road. That will force all westbound and eastbound traffic to use the southern two lanes while new concrete is poured and allowed to strengthen.

“Then basically we’ll switch traffic over to the north half of the road and repeat the work on the southern half,” Meyers said.

West Idaho Street will remain open throughout the project. When traffic is reduced to two lanes, however, no left turns will be permitted.

“If we get one person trying to go against the grain it will stack traffic up for a mile,” Meyers said. “We’re trying to avoid that.”

Reporter Tom Lotshaw may be reached at 758-4483 or by email at tlotshaw@dailyinterlake.com.