Looking to inject life into an economy almost devoid of private investment, the city of Spokane will plow ahead with $80 million in construction projects this summer.

Though its contractors will be required to adhere to public health guidelines, the city will move forward with its plans for routine road maintenance and major infrastructure work, including an $18.5 million replacement of the Post Street Bridge.

Mayor Nadine Woodward’s administration also will apportion $10 million more than originally anticipated for road maintenance in recognition of its timely impact on the struggling private sector, which will be leaned on for the vast majority of the new work.

Woodward’s administration already has committed to carrying out infrastructure projects through the pandemic, but announced its full scope on Wednesday.

“Public infrastructure projects are important to our city’s economy every year, but especially during an economic downtown,” Woodward said.

“This is more important now than ever before.”

The city’s vow to continue with its plans are in stark contrast with the private sector, which was largely brought to a halt by Gov. Jay Inslee’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order.

Inslee’s order, which expires May 4 but could be extended or modified, bans nonessential construction. But he later clarified that it does not apply to construction “to further a public purpose related to a public entity or governmental function or facility.”

Following that guidance, the city’s legal department has given the administration the green light to move ahead with construction.

For road projects, the city is giving first priority to highly traveled streets that have seen a temporary traffic reduction due to the stay-home order. Grind and overlay work began this week on Northwest Boulevard.

“They’re doing traffic counts and they’re actually down significantly … time is opportune to be able to do that (work),” said city spokesman Brian Coddington.

The additional $10 million will be spent on street maintenance, with specific projects yet to be announced. The money will be pulled from the city’s arterial street fund and be an acceleration of projects already planned for a later date.

The only major city project to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic is the rebuild of East Sprague Avenue between Division Street and Grant Street. Officials determined it would be difficult to meet the projected completion date this year and chose to defer the work into 2021.

After projects are put out to bid, the Spokane City Council will have to approve contracts.

“We are excited to partner with the administration to move this forward,” said City Council President Breean Beggs.