Lewiston City Council on Nov. 24 approved a state-local agreement with the Idaho Transportation Department that clears the way for construction on Snake River Avenue from the Southway roundabout to 11th Avenue, Public Works Director Dustin Johnson said.

Johnson told the council the project’s total is about $7,000,000 and noted the city recently received a strategic initiatives grant of about $3.5 million, which will cover roughly half of the cost. The council authorized the mayor to sign the ITD agreement that will advance design, right-of-way and construction, Johnson said.

"This has been a project that's been in the works for, oh, quite a long time," Johnson said, adding the city has spent prior funds on right-of-way acquisition and design. He described how Lewiston’s Surface Transportation Program allocation accumulates until a project reaches the top of the list.

Johnson said the strategic-initiatives payment will be forwarded as part of signing the agreement and that using the grant reduces the SDP funds required, allowing the city to move sooner to other projects such as the 9th Street grade project.

Councilors asked for clarification of line items in the cost breakdown and how "local participation" and prior expenditures were counted. Johnson said spending to date (design and right-of-way) generally counts toward the local match and that he would provide more detailed bookkeeping in the upcoming work session.

The council moved and approved Resolution 2025-52, authorizing the mayor to execute the state-local agreement with ITD.

The next procedural step the director identified is a work session next week where staff will provide additional project detail and cost breakdowns.