The Idaho Transportation Department will begin construction Monday on a major project to widen Interstate 90 between State Highway 41 in Post Falls and U.S. Highway 95 in Coeur d’Alene. This four-year effort, expected to be complete in 2029, will add capacity to one of North Idaho’s busiest stretches of freeway. As one of the largest infrastructure investments in the region, the project is designed to ease congestion, enhance safety, and position the corridor to accommodate continued growth for years to come.
Initial construction tasks will include tree removal from the center median and shoulders, placing temporary barriers, installing work zone signs, minor traffic shifts, and starting construction on the Prairie Trail Bridge. As work begins and continues through fall and winter, drivers can expect:
- Work will typically occur Monday through Friday with both daytime and nighttime activity, though some weekend work may occur as well
- Two lanes of travel being maintained in both directions during daylight hours
- Lanes may be reduced during nighttime hours as needed
- Variable speed limits, with digital signs adjusting speeds based on nearby work activity.
- Drivers should pay extra close attention to the posted speed limits and drive accordingly
The widening effort is the first project from the I-90 Corridor Study to move into construction, prioritized for its significant impact in reducing congestion between SH-41 and US-95.
Major improvements the project will deliver include:
- Adding two lanes in both eastbound and westbound directions of I-90 for a total of four lanes in each direction
- Replacing and widening bridges over Huetter Road, Atlas Road, and Prairie Trail
- Realigning and improving adjacent sections of both the Prairie and Centennial Trails
- Lengthening existing on- and off-ramps to allow for a safer merging with I-90 traffic. Ramp locations include:
- All ramps at the Northwest Blvd. Interchange
- Eastbound off-ramp at US-95
- Westbound off-ramp at US-95
“Relieving congestion on this stretch of I-90 is one of the most common requests that ITD hears from the public and we are excited to begin work to improve the traveling experience on the corridor,” said Zach Feist, ITD Project Manager.
This corridor expansion project will ultimately be bookended by two new interchanges. On the west end, the SH-41 interchange began construction in 2022 and is expected to be fully complete in 2026. At the east end the next major I-90 interchange project to be built will be at US-95 and is currently in the design phase, with construction possible as early as 2027.
Various projects identified in the I-90 Corridor Study are advancing separately but on a similar timeline through the design and construction phase, including I-90 interchange projects at both ends of this project corridor. Construction of the SH-41 interchange is scheduled to be complete next year and the US-95 Interchange is in the design phase with construction expected to begin in 2027 after recent funding was awarded through the TECM bonding program.
The project is primarily funded with Transportation Expansion and Congestion Mitigation funds as part of Governor Little’s Leading Idaho initiative. The TECM program allows ITD to accelerate project timelines to address rapid growth and build critical infrastructure today that would otherwise take many years to fund and build.
ITD is committed to providing accurate and up-to-date information for drivers to plan extra time to safely pass through the work zone. To stay up to date on this and other projects within the I-90 corridor, visit our website and sign up for email and text updates.
For the most up-to-date statewide traffic information, visit 511.idaho.gov or download the app.