Grand Boulevard will reopen to traffic at 7 a.m. today - five days sooner than expected - with a brand new coat of asphalt.

The reopening will end traffic confusion caused by closure of one of the South Hill’s busiest arterials.

Assistant City Manager Dave Mandyke said the contractor still must put down stripes to mark the lanes and install concrete dividers.

That work probably will be completed next week. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction during that work, Mandyke said.

The temporary traffic barriers installed on Garfield Road at 25th and 26th avenues are to be removed by this morning. The barriers were put up during construction to discourage motorists from detouring through the upper Rockwood residential area.

The contractor, Inland Asphalt Co. of Spokane, agreed to speed up construction to minimize the inconvenience to motorists and businesses along Grand.

The contract amount was $880,300.

, DataTimes