Hap Taylor & Sons Inc., of Coeur d'Alene, doing business as Knife River, has begun work under a $4.3 million contract to lay both sewer lines and water mains in the West Ponderosa area south of Spokane Valley.

Mark Stiltz, a Spokane County project manager, says the sewer-line project is a continuation of a larger effort to eliminate septic tanks over the Spokane-Rathdrum Aquifer. This is the second phase of the project in West Ponderosa.

Most of the sewer work will be done in an area bordered by 44th Avenue to the north, Ferret Drive to the south, Van Marter Road to the east, and Farr Road to the west, says Stiltz.

The project will include laying about 21,000 feet of eight-inch diameter sewer pipe and 7,600 feet of four-inch diameter sewer pipe and installing 79 manholes. It will make sewer service available to 224 properties, he says. In the water-main project, about 6,200 feet of water pipe will be installed to upgrade lines, he says.

Some of the streets where the sewer pipe will be laid in the project area include: 44th and 48th avenues, Ferret, Van Marter, Farr, Woodruff Road, Raymond Road, and Holman Road, he says.

The work is scheduled to be completed by next summer, Stiltz says.