Idaho Transportation Department

U.S. 95, Garwood to Sagle Corridor

Project Number: A009(779), A009(780), and A009(791)
Key Number: 09779, 09780, and 09791

Background:

U.S. 95 is the key north-south link for northern Idaho commerce, transportation and tourism. Rapid growth in Bonner and Kootenai counties has caused traffic volumes to approach the capacity of the highway. The corridor between Garwood and Sagle needs to be improved in order to safely accommodate projected traffic.

The process of designing the new highway began in 2002 when ITD initiated a comprehensive study of U.S. 95 between the towns of Garwood and Sagle. The study determined what type of long-term improvements would be needed to increase safety and capacity to meet future travel demands. This process involved extensive work with the public, local officials and agencies.

Project Facts:

Using funding from the Connecting Idaho program, the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) will reconstruct U.S. 95 between the towns of Garwood and Sagle in northern Idaho. The aging roadway will be redesigned as a four-lane divided highway to improve capacity and safety.

The new four-lane highway has been designed with limited access, which will allow traffic to enter and exit the highway only at interchanges. Frontage roads will be provided on both sides of U.S. 95 to provide access to adjacent properties.

Record of Decision Issued:

The Record of Decision (ROD) for this project was issued on July 2, 2010. The ROD authorizes ITD to begin final design, right-of-way acquisition, and construction of the project. For more information on the ROD, click on U.S. 95, Garwood to Sagle Environmental Study.

Work on the corridor is divided into the following projects:

U.S. 95, Garwood to Sagle Environmental Study
U.S. 95, Garwood to Sagle, Idaho 53 to Ohio Match Road
U.S. 95, Garwood to Sagle, Boekel Road to Ohio Match Road Frontage Road
U.S. 95, Garwood to Sagle, Chilco Area
U.S. 95, Garwood to Sagle, Silverwood Area
U.S. 95, Garwood to Sagle, Athol Area
U.S. 95, Garwood to Sagle, Granite Area
U.S. 95, Garwood to Sagle, Sagle Area

Schedule and Funding:

Due to the length of the project and the total estimated cost, it is being constructed in phases. Each phase is constructing elements of the ultimate design until the four lane roadway is complete. The GARVEE-funded projects is constructing the four-lane divided highway along the selected alignment, but only some of the frontage roads and interchanges (Chilco Road, Bunco Road, and SH-54). Subsequent phases will construct the remaining frontage roads and interchanges.

The 2006 Idaho Legislature authorized GARVEE funding to complete preliminary engineering and environmental studies for the U.S. 95 Garwood to Sagle Corridor, and to begin right-of-way acquisition for the project. The 2007 Idaho Legislature authorized additional GARVEE funding to complete acquisition of needed right-of-way for the initial phase projects. Remaining funding for construction was authorized by the 2011 Idaho Legislature.

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.