Sewer main replacement closes city street
(Photo by MARY MALONE) First Avenue south of Pine Street closed down Wednesday at the city’s sewer replacement project commenced.
SANDPOINT — Traffic along First Avenue was detoured Wednesday as the road south of Pine Street shut down for the city's sewer main replacement project.
Project construction is scheduled to be complete and the roadway paved and striped by October 20. Traffic detours will be set up during that time. The sewer main runs along First Avenue from south of Lake Street to north of Church Street.
The project was originally designed in conjunction with the city's downtown revitalization project, but the majority of that work was nixed until next year after the only project bid came in higher than expected. After a decision was made to separate the sewer replacement from the Cedar Street improvements, City Council approved a bid by Earthworks Northwest, Inc., for the sewer replacement at a cost of $515,804.
"I believe that was a good decision and why I feel we have a better project bid moving forward, looking at that revitalization opportunity by replacing the sewer now," said Ryan Luttmann, the city's public works director, in August. "By replacing the sewer now, what this means is next spring we are still on track to re-bid what's already designed for Cedar from Fifth to Second."