Inland Asphalt Co., of Spokane Valley, has been awarded a $4.3 million city of Spokane project to repave Market Street between Garland and Francis avenues in a project that will impact traffic on that busy north-south corridor.

The city's engineering department had estimated the project would cost about $5.6 million to construct.

During the 12- to 16-week project, which is expected to begin this month, the city also will replace a six-inch water main beneath that section of Market, as well as 30 aging water service connections to businesses along that stretch, city spokeswoman Ann Deasy says.

The project also will include paving Rowan, Sanson, Everett, and Wabash avenues between Market and the railroad right of way to the east of Market for two local improvement districts.

While the work is being done, traffic headed north on Market will be routed west to Crestline Street along Garland. For the first few weeks, southbound traffic also will be routed to Crestline, along Francis, but then the southbound lanes of Market near each end of the project will be reopened to traffic. In the Hillyard Business District, Market serves as the one-way northbound leg of a couplet that uses Haven Street as its southbound leg. It will be closed through most of the project, but local access will be open on the side streets in that area.

The Market Street project is being paid for with funds from the 10-year Spokane street bond, and a Washington state Transportation Improvement Board grant will pay for sidewalks to be replaced on Market between Heroy and Columbia avenues during the project. Curb ramps and pedestrian curb extensions will be added, and the grant also will pay for pedestrian lighting and street trees along that stretch.