Idaho Transportation Department

U.S. 95 McArthur Lake Safety Improvement and Wildlife Crossing

Project Facts

Project No.: STP-5110(147)
Key Number: 8907

The Idaho Transportation Department proposes safety improvements on a 2-mile stretch of U.S. 95 east of McArthur Lake at its crossing over Deep Creek. The project examines how to improve motorist safety issues, including animal-vehicle collisions and driver visibility.

U.S. 95 near the intersection with Highland Flat Road/Country Road #4 (between Elmira and Naples) is curved and narrow. One of the proposed safety improvements would straighten this section of roadway. The project would also replace a culvert over Deep Creek with a bridge.

Project Status

Under the ITD "Horizons in Transportation Planning," the project has been moved to the Mid Horizon category (planning for 11-15 years out).

Learn more about the Horizons in Transportation Planning and the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program.

Project Facts

The proposed safety improvements include potential widening and realignment of U.S. 2/95 from the Bonner-Boundary county line to the northern boundary of Section 26, T60N, R1W, BM (approximate milepost 492-494).

The project's Area of Potential Effect (APE) will include the existing ITD Right-of-Way in this area, generally 40-feet wide on each side of the existing highway centerline, and potentially require the acquisition of other state and private land. The project will include replacing the box culvert over Deep Creek with a bridge.

Project History

Near the intersection with Highland Flat Road (County Road #4), between Elmira and Naples, U.S. 95 is forced in to a combined horizontal and vertical curve due to a narrow corridor between McArthur Lake (to the west) and the Union Pacific and Burlington Northern & Santa Fe rail lines (to the east). Otherwise posted at 60 mph, this section of U.S. 95 is posted at an advisory speed of 45 mph.

This stretch of highway is located at an important wildlife linkage zone between the Cabinet-Yaak and Selkirk Mountains. Between the years 2000 and 2004, half of reported vehicle accidents in this section of U.S. 95 were linked to wildlife vehicle collisions.

Public input has been incorporated throughout the life of the project and has helped shape the criteria and selection of the proposed safety improvements. Public open houses were held in January and July 2006; a working group has met three times; and interviews with individual citizens have been conducted.

Compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act

The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is committed to compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and all related regulations and directives. ITD assures that no person shall on the grounds of race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any ITD service, program, or activity. The department also assures that every effort will be made to prevent discrimination through the impacts of its programs, policies, and activities on minority and low-income populations. In addition, the department will take reasonable steps to provide meaningful access to services for persons with Limited English Proficiency.