The second phase of a $6 million reconstruction of Government Way, one of Coeur dAlenes main north-south arterials, began recently and is slated to be completed in August, says Dick Suchocki, the citys engineering project manager.


When the $2.2 million second phase of work is completed, the longtime two-lane road will be transformed into a four- and five-lane thoroughfare thats intended to ease traffic congestion along the busy route. Detours will be set up during construction, causing some delays for motorists, Suchocki says.


In the project, K.C. Construction Inc., of Hayden, Idaho, will widen portions of Government Way between Interstate 90 and Clayton Avenue, which is across the street from the Kootenai County Fairgrounds, and make other infrastructure improvements.


The second phase is divided into two parts. Crews have started working between Clayton and Seale avenues, near a Home Depot store, Suchocki says. Already, they have torn up the old pavement and have completed some site work. They will replace and upgrade water and sewer lines with curb and sidewalk work expected to start in early April and paving slated to begin in May.


The second part of the job includes widening Government Way to the south from Neider Avenue to I-90. That work is scheduled to start in June.


The entire $6 million project is being funded with federal transportation money through the state of Idaho, Suchocki, says. About $1.6 million was spent to acquire the right of way that the city needed to move forward with the reconstruction project.


The first phase of the project was completed last year, which included widening portions of Government Way between Neider and Seale and between Clayton and Dalton avenues. It included adding sidewalks and making infrastructure improvements such as installing signals at Dalton and Neider.