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Starting next week crews will begin removing hazard trees along a 5-mile stretch of State Highway 5 near Heyburn State Park. Work will begin near Hillwood Lane and move west to Chatcolet Road over the course of four to five weeks with the highway reduced to one lane during the day in the work zone.

While the tree clearing operation is underway, ITD will provide flaggers and a pilot car to safely guide traffic through the work zone.

Work will occur on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and will take a scheduled break on May 23, 24 and 28 to avoid slowing down increased traffic surrounding Memorial Weekend.

“Any tree within reach of the highway that is compromised, whether due to its health or stability, is considered a hazard due to the potential of falling onto traffic,” Project Manager James Dorman said.

To complete this work, ITD is collaborating with the Idaho Parks and Recreation Department who is working with foresters and a local contractor to identify potentially hazardous trees for removal.

“Idaho Parks and Recreation is excited for this partnership and the opportunity to focus on safety for Idaho’s drivers and recreators alike,” stated Parks Public Information Officer Craig Quintana. “The trees that have been identified for removal are on Heyburn State Park property, but the safety concern involves ITD right of way.”

Drivers should plan ahead for delays and use the Idaho 511 system for updates.

 

Next week the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) will start the final construction tasks to improve safety on I-90 at the Division Street and Elizabeth Park Road overpasses.

Crews will remove the temporary pavement that was placed in 2022 and finish the driving surface for the eastbound bridges. They will also address drainage on the westbound bridge over Division Street.

Construction is anticipated to start April 29, at which time traffic on I-90 will be restricted to one lane in each direction and crossed over the westbound lanes for up to two months. No impacts are expected for Division Street or Elizabeth Park Road.

In the past two years, crews have replaced the eastbound and westbound bridges, widened the eastbound on-ramp at Division Street, and repaved both Division Street and Elizabeth Park Road under the overpasses.

Additionally, improvements to the eastbound bridge over Pine Creek in Pinehurst are anticipated to start in late May. I-90 will be reduced to one lane in each direction for approximately one month as crews remove and replace the concrete surface.

Speed limits for both construction zones will be reduced to 55 mph for the safety of drivers and workers.

Visit 511.idaho.gov or download the app for statewide traffic information.

The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD), in conjunction with Ada County Highway District and the Boise Valley Railroad, will close Milwaukee Street from Westpark Street to Franklin Road April 26 through April 29. The full closure is necessary to replace the railroad crossing in the area.

The Milwaukee crossing was installed in 2006, and the last major maintenance of the crossing surface was completed more than ten years ago. This construction will bring the railroad crossing level with the roadway, creating a smoother driving experience for the traveling public.

“There are two trains that use these tracks every day, and they are vital for Idaho’s commerce. In order to replace the crossing quickly, a full closure is needed,” said Blaine Schwendiman, the Rail-Highway Crossing Manager for ITD.

Drivers will still be able to access businesses during the closure.

Motorists are asked to slow down in the work zone for a closed lane near Reisenauer Hill on U.S. Highway 95 south of Moscow as part of ongoing realignment and expansion.

Travelers can expect the southbound right lane to be closed through mid-May with speeds reduced to 35 mph in the two-mile work zone. Intermittent flagging operations, additional lane closures, and other changing conditions will impact traffic.

In early May Eid Road will be closed and restricted to local traffic only for approximately 10 weeks. Construction off this road is the site for two bridges on the realignment.

Once temporary lanes are built around the work area in mid-May, drivers will be able to travel at 45 mph. One lane will be open in each direction.

Expanding the highway to four lanes on a new alignment will not only add capacity and reduce travel times but also significantly improve safety. To learn more about the project please visit itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/us95thorncreektomoscow.

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 onto mobile devices.

Bridge abutments and the pier, which serve as foundations for the bridge itself, are nearing completion on US Highway 95 near McArthur Lake. Once these are finished the next step in construction of the two-span bridge will be placement of the steel girders, which are support beams that span between the abutments and the center pier and support the concrete driving surface above.

A total of 8 steel girders will be placed, 4 at each span. The girders measure approximately 150 feet long, weigh approximately 69,000 pounds each, and will require the use of a large crane to lift and set them into place.

TRAFFIC IMPACT ALERT

Starting on Monday April 22, crews will begin the process of placing these beams which will require intermittent lane reductions and closures on US Highway 95 allowing a safe space for workers and drivers alike.

The crane will be positioned near the inside lane of the shoofly where girders will be delivered, and then utilize the boom to pick the beams from the trucks and swing them into place. During the time that steel girders are being picked and guided through the air, traffic will be temporarily blocked in both directions.

To help prepare local commuters for upcoming traffic impacts, electronic signs near the work zone will be updated to provide specific date and time information for these closures.

The most significant delays are anticipated on April 24, and April 29 while girders are actively being picked and placed.

Drivers should pay attention to local signage and use the Idaho 511 system for updates.

Work is scheduled to only occur during daytime hours and weekend closures are not anticipated at this time. This work is expected to last for approximately two weeks.

Motorists can expect construction on U.S. Highway 95 this Monday as crews start resurfacing 13 miles between milepost 210 and Whitebird.

Work will restore the roadway and provide a smoother traveling surface to improve mobility through this vital corridor. Sections of guardrail will also be updated to current standards for enhanced safety.

Over the next few months, travelers can expect the following traffic shifts on US-95:

• Mid-April through mid-May: One-lane closed during the day.
• Mid-May through mid-July: One-lane closed during the day and night.
• Mid-July through mid-October: One-lane closed during the day.

Drivers should reduce speed and be on the lookout for flaggers and/or pilot cars in operation. Wait times are estimated to be around 15 minutes but should not exceed 30 minutes.

The cost for the project is $17.3 million.

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.

Two highways west of Kamiah were closed until further notice due to rockfall and flooding. State Highway 64 is closed from milepost 24 to milepost 30, and State Highway 162 is closed from milepost 14 to milepost 22.

SH-64 and SH-162 closed last night. Besides the significant debris, the road has received structural damage from the washout.

“Crews have been working hard since late last night to clear dozens of debris flows,” Operations Engineer Jared Hopkins said. “Please watch for our operators staffing the barricades and be prepared to turn around or find an alternate route.”

Travelers between Nez Perce and Kamiah are advised to use U.S. Highway 12 and U.S. Highway 95.

Updates on these closures will be posted to 511.idaho.gov. Travelers can also dial 5-1-1 or download the app.