New four-lane section of US-95 south of Moscow to open later today

Later today drivers will be able to take the new four-lane section of U.S. Highway 95 from Reisenauer Hill to Moscow as work wraps up on this nearly $90 million realignment.

Construction began in 2022 to shift the curving, two-lane highway to the east and expand it to four lanes. The new route was funded partially by Governor Little’s Leading Idaho program and was designed to be safer with a flatter grade, fewer curves and better access control.

“We are very appreciative of the patience of the public with our construction as we complete this long-awaited and outstanding addition of infrastructure to our system,” District Engineer Doral Hoff said. “This improvement will make travel significantly safer, especially as we see Idaho’s population grow. This project and others are evidence of ITD’s commitment to safety and efficiency for the traveling public. We take your safety on the road seriously.”

The project first began in 1999 when the Idaho Transportation Department started efforts to expand all of US-95 to four lanes from the top of Lewiston Hill to Moscow. This six-mile segment was the last to be improved, with most of the corridor undergoing construction in the early 2000s.

After highway traffic is shifted on to the new alignment, North Latah Highway District will assume ownership of the old section that will be renamed Reisenauer Road. Construction of the bridge over Thorn Creek at the southern end will continue impacting traffic through the fall, and drivers will only be able to access Reisenauer Road at the northern end near Moscow.

Sealcoats for US-12 east of Kooskia begin tomorrow

Construction will start tomorrow to apply sealcoats to two sections of U.S. Highway 12 east of Kooskia. Sealcoats are necessary applications that will prolong the life of pavement. They improve the driving surface by waterproofing the roadway and increasing skid resistance for safety.

Work will start near the Lochsa Ranger Station at milepost 121 and move toward White Pine River Access. Then crews will shift to Powell at milepost 151 and work toward Lolo Pass at milepost 167. US-12 will be down to one lane with flaggers alternating traffic. Each section is anticipated to take between one to two weeks to complete before crews move on to the next.

Drivers are encouraged to follow all posted work zone speeds and be ready to stop for flaggers. Delays may range from 15 to 30 minutes, and a pilot car will escort motorists safely through the work zone. Crews appreciate the patience of the public during this important preservation work.

Construction will conclude by the end of July. Live traffic impacts across the region can be found by visiting 511.idaho.gov. Travelers can also dial 5-1-1 or download the app.

Repairs on five US-95 bridges north of New Meadows start Wednesday

The Idaho Transportation Department is repairing five bridges along U.S. Highway 95 from New Meadows to Pollock in Adams and Idaho Counties starting Wednesday. Construction on each bridge will last approximately one week, and crews may work on more than one bridge at a time.

The bridges included in this project are the Goose Creek West Bridge, Goose Creek East Bridge, Little Salmon River Bridge, Boulder Creek Bridge and Fall Creek Bridge. View the map to see the exact locations of these bridges. Work will start this week at the Goose Creek West Bridge.

Impacts to traffic will vary by bridge, but overall motorists can expect daytime work with reduced speed limits. US-95 will be reduced to one lane in work zones with flaggers or temporary signals to control traffic.

This work is part of a larger effort to repair bridges throughout southwestern Idaho to extend their service life and reduce maintenance costs. ITD is also preforming repairs on bridges in Canyon County

and has completed work on bridges in Elmore and Ada counties.

Repairs will include:

– Patching and sealing concrete

– Working on expansion joints

– Removing asphalt overlays

– Improving deck drains

– Milling and paving bridge approaches

– Painting steel structures

The Idaho Transportation Department is committed to minimizing disruption during construction while prioritizing the safety of both crews and motorists. Drivers are urged to use extra caution when traveling through active work zones.

To plan your route in advance, visit 511.idaho.gov.

To learn more about the project and see a breakdown of impacts and repairs by bridge, visit the project website at ITDProjects.Idaho.Gov/pages/Bridges2025, call 208-377-9688 or email John@RBCI.net.

Final repairs to US-12 Clearwater Memorial Bridge start Saturday

Picture of the deck on the Clearwater Memorial Bridge on a sunny morning.

Beginning Saturday, traffic on the U.S. Highway 12 Clearwater Memorial Bridge will be reduced to one lane in each direction in preparation for a new surface that will provide a smoother ride for drivers.

Crews will start on the northbound lanes and then shift to the other lanes of the bridge. Each side will remain closed for a few days while crews complete their work. After the new surface is complete, lanes will be striped.

The public should expect minimal traffic delays through the work zone and into next week. Sidewalks will remain open. Crews will work sunrise to sunset.

The work will wrap up before the Fourth of July. Touch up work such as fastening, patching, and painting have been ongoing since the spring. Last winter in 2024, crews finished pouring concrete on the new deck allowing the bridge to be fully opened to traffic.

The newly renovated bridge provides larger travel lanes, shoulders, median and sidewalks. In addition, the construction brought the bridge up to current standards, eliminating weight restrictions for heavy loads that use the bridge daily.

Live traffic impacts across the region can be found by visiting 511.idaho.gov. Travelers can also dial 5-1-1 or download the app.

US-95 Spalding Bridge identified for further funding

Today at its regular monthly meeting the Idaho Transportation Board accepted staff recommendations on priority corridors across Idaho using TECM funds to address congestion, including the Spalding Bridge on U.S. Highway 95 east of Lewiston. Since Transportation Expansion and Congestion Mitigation funds were first used by the department for bonding and advancing major projects in 2022, ITD has delivered timely construction of expansion projects across the state. Today’s actions are a continuation of that.

Funding came from House Bill 25, which was passed by the Idaho Legislature earlier this year. The legislation provides an additional $20 million a year to the Transportation Expansion and Congestion Mitigation fund for the next three years and allows the department to invest an extra $1 billion in the Idaho transportation system.

Prior to House Bill 25, no funding was available for construction; now it could begin at the earliest in 2028. This project will replace the existing Spalding Bridge with two wider bridges and add capacity to the existing US-95 and US-12 Interchange.

With this project now included in the draft Idaho Transportation Investment Program (ITIP), the public will have the opportunity to give feedback on this project and the department’s full list of planned projects from 2026-2032 during the annual comment period in July. Then the draft ITIP will be presented to the board for approval in September.

The board’s action today reflects continued investment targeting congestion and capacity in major corridors that were previously funded by TECM bonds as authorized by the Idaho Legislature. In North-central Idaho, TECM funds had previously allowed ITD to start design of this bridge and the nearby Arrow Bridge.

This project and others were identified because they are existing high-priority corridor needs that will improve traffic flow and increase safety.

ITD invites the community to provide input on two planning studies in Latah County

Drone picture of US-95 near Moscow. Text reads as "US-95 and SH-8 Palouse Region Studies."

The Idaho Transportation Department invites community members to attend an upcoming public meeting on Tuesday, June 24, to learn more about and provide input on two transportation studies underway in Latah County: the U.S. Highway 95 Palouse Region Study, between Snow Road and the Latah/Benewah county line, and the State Highway 8 Palouse Region Study, between the Washington state line and Troy.

With current traffic volumes and anticipated growth in the area, both studies were initiated in 2023 to guide future investments to improve safety, mobility, and economic opportunity throughout the region. The first steps included identifying transportation needs, environmental and growth considerations, and community goals. From those findings, including the community feedback from the April 2024 public meetings, each study team developed concepts for potential transportation solutions, and the preliminary evaluation results are now ready for community input.

“Public involvement is an important part of the decision-making process and will contribute to the success of these studies,” Project Manager Janet Zarate said. “With the range of concepts available, we look forward to hearing from the community as the feedback helps develop sustainable solutions for transportation in the Palouse Region.”

Opportunities to participate in the public meeting are available both in person and online. Both experiences will include the same information and chances for feedback:

In Person: Tuesday, June 24, drop in anytime between 4 and 7 p.m., Best Western University Inn, Moscow

Online: Available June 17 through July 8 at us95sh8.com

ITD will use this community input as the studies move through the concept evaluation process. Another series of public meetings to share those advancements is anticipated through 2026.

More information about the studies is available at itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/sh8-us95-pel.

15-minute closures planned on the Lewiston Grade this weekend

Picture of the rockfall fencing on the Lewiston Grade.

Ongoing construction to repair fencing on U.S. Highway 95 near the top of Lewiston Grade that protects travelers from falling rocks will continue into the weekend.

From 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday mornings, flaggers will stop traffic in the northbound and southbound directions for 15 minutes at a time while crews strategically dislodge rocks from the hillside to the highway below. Traffic will be cleared after each closure. These intermittent closures are necessary for the safety of the traveling public.

Live traffic impacts across the region from this project and others can be found by visiting 511.idaho.gov. Travelers can also dial 5-1-1 or download the app.

Repairs to rockfall fencing starts tomorrow on the Lewiston Grade

Tomorrow morning construction will begin on U.S. Highway 95 near the top of the Lewiston Grade to repair fencing that protects travelers from falling rocks.

During weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., northbound traffic up the grade will be slowed to 45 mph and reduced to one lane. Southbound travelers heading into Lewiston will not be impacted by the construction.

Drivers can also expect to see crews working on the slope above the fencing to knock down any unstable rocks prior to fixing the fence.

Construction is slated to conclude mid-June.

These repairs cost about $157,000.

Live traffic impacts across the region from this project and others can be found by visiting 511.idaho.gov. Travelers can also dial 5-1-1 or download the app.

Expect delays on US-95 for Thorn Creek Bridge work next week

Construction equipment and work zone at Thorn Creek Bridge along US-95.

Daytime intermittent closures on U.S. Highway 95 between Moscow and Lewiston near Thorn Creek/ Uniontown Cutoff will be in effect next Wednesday and Thursday, May 28 and 29, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. while the Idaho Transportation Department is installing new bridge girders at the Thorn Creek Bridge.

The bridge will fully close to both north and southbound traffic while each girder is installed. Girders are the large horizontal beams that will support the new bridge deck being constructed this summer.

Flaggers will be present to allow traffic to pass one direction at a time between each girder installation. Motorists are encouraged to seek an alternative route to avoid delays.

This work at Thorn Creek Bridge is part of a large-scale project improving safety along US-95 from Lewiston to Moscow. Portions of this project are funded as part of Idaho Governor Brad Little’s Leading Idaho transportation funding initiative. These funds are used to make investments in critical state infrastructure to enhance safety, mobility and to sustain Idaho’s strong economy into the future.

Digital message boards are currently in place to alert drivers of these closures next week. Updates can also be found on the Idaho 511 app and at https://511.idaho.gov/.

US-95 paving through Riggins starts next week

Starting Monday, construction will begin on U.S. Highway 95 through the city of Riggins to replace or repair manhole covers and fix soft spots to preserve the highway surface and provide a smoother trip through town.

The work will be from Big Salmon Road north through Riggins.

The public should expect flagging operations with a pilot car on site. Traffic delays should be between 15 and 30 minutes while work is taking place during the day. The speed limit through downtown Riggins is 25 mph, but extra caution is encouraged as there will be heavy equipment and multiple personnel in the work zone.

The project is valued at $1.3 million, and work is anticipated to be completed before the 4^th of July.

Live traffic impacts across the region can be found by visiting 511.idaho.gov. Travelers can also dial 5-1-1 or download the app.