Firm named to design 'Curve'

SANDPOINT — The next stage in the development of the U.S. 2 “Curve” extension now has a design team to guide it toward reality.

WHPacific, an engineering firm with several locations throughout the western U.S., will be handling the final design for the project. Transportation information officer Susan Kiebert visited the regular Sandpoint City Council meeting Wednesday to share the news with city officials.

“WHPacific is officially under contract now,” Kiebert said. “We actually had the first team meeting last week.”

The engineering firm’s work will provide the blueprint for the Curve, a long-anticipated project that received funding from the Idaho Transportation Department this summer. According to Kiebert, the lead designer will be Tracy Olsen, who was also the lead designer of the Sand Creek Byway under the employment of civil engineering firm URS.

Consulting firm David Evans and Associates laid early groundwork on the project. Over a 15-month period, employees prepared numerous concept renderings and organized several public workshops and forums to bring local residents and business owners into the discussion. Based on that experience, Kiebert said the consulting firm may be given another contract to continue their work.

“(That way,) the work they did over that 15-month period is not in vain,” Kiebert said. “It’s very important we continue to coordinate with them.”

The next step is to start the second phase of public involvement. According to Kiebert, the next three months will be about collecting surveys and getting the input of property owners adjacent to the Curve’s building site. She added that the first letters to those affected individuals were scheduled to go out this week.

The project is an important one for the city officials’ long-term goals. With the Sand Creek Byway open and handling traffic on U.S. 95, the city now needs the Curve to divert U.S. 2 travelers from the downtown core. After that is complete, the city will be able to regain control of its downtown streets.  

With Curve construction expected to begin as early as next year, residents can anticipate public workshops to add their opinions as the design moves forward.