Resort Remodeling Clogs Front Street

Instead of guests and golfers, work trucks clog the circular entrance to the Coeur d’Alene Resort.

When the dust settles May 1, the resort will have a new lobby accented with granite, copper and oak, heated sidewalks and new landscaping, said project superintendent Jack Wilson of Panco Construction Inc.

“We have to work nights and odd hours to get a lot accomplished, while the guests are in bed,” Wilson said on Tuesday.

The project includes a bus lane along Front Street, making it easier for ski and golf buses to load and unload. But traffic has created an obstacle for the more than 60 workers that range from electricians and landscapers to painters.

Since the remodeling project began April 1, Front Street drivers have experienced short delays.

Even with slowed traffic, dust and noise, Wilson said hotel guests and local drivers have been understanding.

“It’s just a hard place,” Wilson said. “But it’s finally coming together.”