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Construction to begin on STAR-financed interchange

A project to construct a new interchange on Interstate 90 and Beck Road is under way. The project will address the future traffic demands associated with growth at the western edge of Post Falls near the Washington state border.

The area is being developed as a regional retail and employment center and is expected to experience increased demand for access to and from I-90. New interstate access near Beck Road would relieve current and future congestion on the adjacent I-90 interchanges, as well as on surrounding public roads.

The approximate one-mile spacing of Beck Road between the adjacent interchanges is an efficient interstate access location to serve the area. Initially the project will be privately funded by the developer of The Pointe at Post Falls, which is a commercial development on the north side of I-90 near Beck Road.

Under the State Tax Anticipated Revenue (STAR) Legislation approved by the Idaho Legislature in 2007, the private company will be eligible for reimbursement of up to $35 million of approved project expenses using sales tax reimbursements from retail development within the project area.

The developer is using a Design/Build team and a Design/Build project delivery method to construct the interchange. The project was designed by H.W. Lochner Engineering, of Boise and is being constructed by Ralph L. Wadsworth Construction Company of Draper, Utah.

The team has set an ambitious construction schedule, with completion expected by late November of this year.