Work is scheduled to begin this week to make the Colville Tribal Museum in Coulee Dam handicapped accessible.

Last week, museum workers were busy packaging everything up on the lower level to get ready for the project to begin.

DWK Fowler Construction was the successful bidder on the nearly $800,000 museum remodeling.

The project calls for ramps at both levels of the building to meet the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and new concrete siding, to replace rotting wooden materials.

Entrance doors at both levels will be replaced, and, on the lower level, put at a new location to accommodate the ramp work.

Dwayne Fowler said that a lot of concrete work will be necessary at both levels to accommodate the ADA ramps.

The museum gift store will move to the upper level, with space it occupied downstairs being used for more collections. The popular gallery will continue to be located downstairs, which features a number of native elders.

Fowler stated that the project will be done within the allotted six months.

“We plan to get the outside work done before winter sets in so our crew can work indoors when winter hits,” Fowler stated.

The project also calls for restrooms to become ADA accessible.

The Colville Tribes purchased the building several years ago from the Catholic Church.