Davenport-based contractor Halme Construction Inc. is the apparent low bidder on a street-improvement project along Francis Avenue between Crestline and Haven streets, says city of Spokane spokeswoman Marlene Feist.

Halme submitted a $1.1 million bid, Feist says.

The roughly half-mile stretch of Francis Avenue will receive curb-to-curb repaving. The project also will involve water main work and installation of federally funded intelligent transportation system conduit, Feist says.

Intelligent transportation systems relay traffic information back to the Spokane Regional Transportation Management Center to help coordinate traffic signals.

Construction is slated to begin in April and will last about two months. She says the stretch of Francis that's to be improved will be closed to traffic during construction, and traffic will be rerouted south to Wellesley Avenue.

Funding for the street rehabilitation will come from the city of Spokane's 2004 street bond, and North Spokane Irrigation District No. 8 is funding work on the water main, Feist says.

The project received 10 bids, nine coming in under the engineer's estimate of about $1.6 million.

Feist says the streets project will take place west of work being completed by the Washington Department of Transportation. The DOT is replacing the 160-foot Francis Avenue Bridge, east of Market Street, with a 455-foot bridge that will accommodate the continuation of the North Spokane Corridor and the current BNSF Railway tracks.