1ofl Hae ccn By BRIAN WALKER Staff writer Interchange near Cabela's will make way for new development. POST FALLS -- Construction on an Interstate 90 Interchange on the west side of Post Falls is expected to start this fal, The interchange, which will be in the area of Beck Road between State Line and Pleasant View interchanges, is expected to spur on development such as Wal-Mart and Lowe's at The Pointe at Post Falls. Activity in that area came to a halt after Cabela's and road Improvements were finished. Transportation officials believe retaliers and hotels are waiting for 1-90 access before signing on. "Once completed, the interchange will provide continuity to both sides of 1-90 and serve Beck Road as a regional transportation facility,” said Bill Melvin, Post Falls city engineer. "The interchange need is accelerated ue to the development activity within that focal area, ‘A public open house on the project will be held Wednesday at Post Falls City Hall, 408 N. Spokane St., between 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. ‘The interchange is expected to take about a year to complete. “The schedule of activities from approval to construction is aggressive and is moving forward through the process on a fast-track basis,” Melvin sald ‘The project will cost about $25 million, depending on the final design and cost of materials. Ray Murphy, co-chairman of the chamber's transportation committee, said as costs began to soar, developer Foursquare Properties started to trim the design and eliminate access to the south side of the freeway. “That got some property owners pretty excited," Murphy said. "That is when we got involved insisting that Beck Road be a full-access Interchange to all the players." ‘The interchange is being designed and constructed by private developers with reimbursement from STAR, (Sales Tax Anticipation Revenue) financing. “This style of interchange is innovative, allowing for high traffic volumes and fairly rapid construction," Melvin said, adding that it will be the first ofits kind in the area. ‘This project is the first in Idaho to take advantage of STAR, approved by the Legislature in 2007. Foursquare Properties volunteered the initial private funding. ‘The project's environmental study should be completed this summer. Information on the project can be found at hitto://postfalisidaho.org, Interested persons should contact project team public involvement specialist, Lor! Isenberg, 665-9922, BeckRoad. info@hdrinc.com.