The city of Spokane plans to begin soon three street repaving projects worth a combined about $4.6 million. It has opened construction bids for all three planned projects on Northwest Boulevard and Nevada Street on the city's North Side and on 37th Avenue on the South Hill.

Inland Asphalt Co., of Spokane Valley, submitted the lowest bid, at $1.9 million, to repave Northwest Boulevard between Alberta and Ash streets, says city spokeswoman Ann Deasy.

Meanwhile, Red Diamond Construction Inc., of Spokane Valley, submitted an apparent low bid of $2.1 million, for a project to repave Nevada between North Foothills Drive and Broad Street.

Also, the city received an apparent low bid of $647,000 from MRM Construction Inc., of Ellensburg, Wash., to repave 37th Avenue between Grand Boulevard and Perry Street.

The Northwest Boulevard project is expected to begin in mid-June and be completed in August, Deasy says. It entails removing and replacing the asphalt along that stretch, and the contractor also will install a concrete intersection at Northwest Boulevard and Cochran Street, as well as adding curb ramps. During the work, lanes will be closed, but the route will remain open to traffic, Deasy says.

On Nevada Street, the contractor will replace the asphalt along the entire 1.2-mile stretch between North Foothills Drive and Broad, rebuild the intersection at Wellesley Avenue and Nevada, and install curb ramps. The work is expected to begin in mid-June and is to be done in stages, with completion expected in October, Deasy says. Traffic will be detoured during the work. During half of the project, Nevada will be closed between North Foothills Drive and Providence Avenue, and traffic will be redirected to Crestline and Division streets. During the other part of the project, Nevada will be closed between Providence and Hoffman streets.

The work on 37th Avenue is expected to begin late this month, and will include removing all the pavement along that about half-mile stretch of arterial. The contractor will replace the pavement and construct new curbs and sidewalks and will delineate a bicycle lane on the roadway, says Deasy.

During the work, which is expected to be completed around the middle of August, traffic will be detoured to 29th Avenue via Grand and Perry Street.

All three of the projects are being done because of aging road surfaces, and are being paid for with money from the city's 10-year street bond, Deasy says. Spokane Transit Authority is contributing to the project on 37th, and to the cost of the concrete intersection at Northwest Boulevard and Cochran, Deasy says.