Category: North

The Idaho Transportation Department is beginning the second phase of construction on U.S. Highway 95 between Sagle Road and Lakeshore Drive to increase safety for drivers on the highway and reduce delays for drivers turning onto it. Impacts to traffic will begin during the evening hours of Sunday, August 14.

For approximately two weeks, crews will work at night to repave US-95 from Pit Road in Sagle to the Long Bridge. Motorists can expect the following impacts:

• Flaggers will control one lane of alternating traffic on US-95 Sunday through Thursday from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m.
• Nighttime lane closures will intermittently affect the Long Bridge
• Speed limits lowered to 45 mph
• Up to 15-minute delays
• For live traffic impacts, check 511.idaho.gov

“The highway needs to be resurfaced this fall to avoid severe potholes in the winter,” ITD Project Manager Phil Stout said.

Work during this phase also includes building a U-turn for drivers and installing a signal at Sagle Road.

After the Labor Day weekend, crews will begin building a U-turn as an option for drivers to use when trying to head northbound on US-95 from Lakeshore Drive. The U-turn will be constructed northeast of Bottle Bay Road. Work will take place during the day, and one lane will remain open in each direction.

“Due to long lead times on some key materials, parts of the project will likely not be finished until the spring, including opening up the U-turn for traffic,” Stout said.

Sagle Road improvements are planned to start in mid-October. Drivers on US-95 will not be able to turn east onto Sagle Road, and westbound drivers on Sagle Road will not be able access the highway. Instead, they will be temporarily detoured to Monarch Road for up to one month.

“Our goal is to have the detour in place only as long as necessary, so we have put an incentive in the contract to encourage that work to be completed early,” Stout said.

Work this year will realign the intersection, add turning lanes and prepare for signal installation next spring.

Improvements and anticipated impacts during construction were presented at an open house held in April.

Visit the website at itdprojects.org/us95lakeshoredrive to sign up for construction updates and for more information.

September 6, 2022 update

Rest area reopened today

Today services at the Huetter Rest Area were restored through a temporary cleaning contract. The department will continue to pursue a long-term cleaning contract. The status of rest areas can always be checked at 511.idaho.gov.

August 2, 2022 update

Limited services available at the I-90 Huetter Rest Area until further notice

Limited services will be available until further notice at the Huetter Rest Area on I-90 between Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene.

At the eastbound rest area commercial vehicles may stop at the Port of Entry and travelers with watercraft like kayaks and boats must stop for inspection by the Idaho State Department of Agriculture to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.

No services are available at the westbound rest area.

“Back in late June, we had to terminate our contract with the cleaning company,” Operations Engineer Ryan Hawkins said. “The restroom and grounds were not being maintained per the standards of the contract and were posing a health risk.”

The Idaho Transportation Department has hired another contractor to perform a deep clean of the facilities and will solicit a new contractor for continued, ongoing maintenance.

“In the past, we have not had many companies interested in providing this service, so we are not sure when we will be able to fully restore operations,” Hawkins said. “In the meantime, we encourage travelers to stop in Post Falls or Coeur d’Alene.”

Rest area closures and traffic impacts across the state may be found by visiting 511.idaho.gov.

POST FALLS – The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is beginning work to replace and upgrade the interchange at Interstate 90 and State Highway 41 in Post Falls, with impacts to traffic beginning Monday, August 1.

Construction will be underway until the summer of 2025. Over the next four seasons work will generally shift from I-90 to SH-41 and then to Seltice Way. To learn about the full range of improvements and how to use the future interchange, watch this video.

“The beginning of this project is a significant milestone for ITD and the surrounding area,” said Shannon Stein, ITD project manager. “Once finished, the reconstructed interchange will improve safety, increase capacity, provide better connectivity to SH-41 and position I-90 for future expansion.”

In 2022, crews will work along I-90, begin reconstructing ramps and begin building the new eastbound bridges. Motorists can expect the following impacts:

• Two 12-foot lanes of I-90 will be open during the day. Shoulders will be reduced to 2 feet.
• Speed limits will be lowered to 55 mph on I-90 and 25 mph on SH-41 and Seltice Way.
• Intermittent lane restrictions will occur on I-90 at night (8 p.m. to 5 a.m.). During special events, night work will begin at 10 p.m. Initial efforts include primarily night work.
• Live traffic impacts will be available for individuals to check at 511.idaho.gov.

Construction may be noisy at times and require nighttime lighting or additional closures or delays on roads in the project area.

“It will be important to plan extra time when traveling around the interchange. ITD will communicate regularly throughout construction with those who live, work and commute in this area,” Stein said.

The best way to stay informed is to sign up for email updates by visiting itdprojects.org/i90sh41ic or by calling 866-774-4454.

The $78 million interchange reconstruction is beginning one year earlier than expected, thanks in part to Transportation Expansion and Congestion Mitigation (TECM) funds through Governor Little’s “Leading Idaho” initiative. This deliberate investment of TECM funds allows ITD to accelerate project timelines to address rapid growth and construct critical infrastructure sooner in Post Falls.

Construction of the new Garwood Bridge is nearing completion, with a tentative date for the bridge to open to traffic next Friday, July 29. The overpass allows for seamless north-south travel on US-95 and a safer crossing over the railroad. Completion of the bridge represents the conclusion of a multi-year project that began in summer of 2019 to improve the safety and efficiency of the US-95 corridor.

The project began with construction of a new single-point urban interchange at the junction of US-95 and ID-53. The interchange increased efficiency and safety of traffic flow by directing traffic through a single centralized signal. This interchange opened in November 2020 and is the first of its kind in North Idaho.

As a result of the two new structures, the project was able to remove two at-grade signals along US-95, so the last signal heading north from Coeur d’Alene is now at Lancaster Road.

A temporary signal that was installed at the intersection of ID-53 and Ramsey Road to accommodate detour traffic and will be replaced by a permanent signal through a separate project next year.

ITD would like to thank drivers for their patience during construction and reminds everyone to check https://511.idaho.gov for traffic impacts from other ongoing projects before traveling.

Last month Girl Scout Troop 1806 partnered with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) to install homemade birdhouses near the US-95 McArthur Lake project south of Naples.

Project Manager Carrie Ann Hewitt has consulted IDFG biologists through the design of the project, which includes realigning one mile of the highway near the lake to make the existing curves safer for drivers and to elevate the highway where it dips down to the water. Elevating US-95 will also allow wildlife to pass underneath to access the IDFG McArthur Lake Wildlife Management Area.

The project will be constructed in 2023 and 2024, with tree thinning work this year to prepare for the realignment. Hewitt is a co-leader for the troop, which had been researching the state bird—the mountain bluebird—and the troop reached out to IDFG to see about improving habitat.

“Mountain bluebird populations are struggling,” Hewitt said. “The girls found that cowbirds actually swap out eggs with the bluebirds, and the bluebirds unknowingly hatch the wrong offspring.”

The troop built birdhouses with entrances too small for the cowbirds to prevent that from happening, and IDFG suggested that they install them near McArthur Lake due to the recent thinning, along with another site near Boundary Creek.

Hewitt’s daughter Allison, 14, and fellow troop members camped in the area and with help from IDFG installed 18 birdhouses. This project will earn them their Silver Awards, which is one step away from the Gold Award, comparable to the Eagle Award for Scouts BSA.

Two resurfacing projects will begin this July on several miles of Interstate 90 near Fourth of July and Lookout passes, with the first set to start Monday.

Paving between Wallace and Mullan will start next week and is scheduled to take until September, with traffic reduced to one lane in each direction. Crews will add an 85-foot-long wall and fencing at milepost 67 to protect drivers from potential rockfall.

These improvements were added to the project after boulders fell down a steep chute onto the freeway during two separate events in June and November of 2020. The project was originally scheduled to be constructed in 2024 but was advanced to this summer with funds from Governor Brad Little’s “Leading Idaho” investment, which includes a one-time transfer from the state’s budget surplus of $126 million dedicated in 2021 by the Idaho Legislature.

The bottom of Fourth of July Pass will also undergo construction as part of a different project starting in late July. Work this year will focus on improving the driving surface four miles east of the pass, and concrete barrier will be installed in the median next spring to prevent head-on crashes. While work is underway, one lane in each direction will be closed.

For both work zones, all traffic will eventually be crossed over to run on one set of lanes and will be divided by cones rather than a median.

Other work zones on I-90 include bridge replacements in Kellogg and a range of smaller projects to address bridges, concrete barrier and ramps. Drivers should plan extra time for commuting and check 511.idaho.gov for traffic conditions and restrictions on up to seven planned work zones east of CDA this summer.

ITD is asking for input on the just-released draft Idaho Transportation Investment Program (ITIP). The 2023-2029 ITIP is a seven-year master plan of the state’s transportation improvement projects. Everyone is encouraged to participate starting in July.

Projects can range from large-scale interstate improvements to smaller projects like the installation of a new guardrail. In all, the draft ITIP includes projects in all 44 counties and all modes of transportation. Projects were selected based on technical data, as well as input from local officials and residents.

A complete breakdown of the draft plan can be found at itd.idaho.gov/funding.

Projects newly funded in North Idaho with this update include:

• Resurfacing U.S. Highway 95 from Bonners Ferry to Three Mile Junction in 2029.
• Resurfacing State Highway 53 from the state line to Hauser Lake Road in 2024 to keep conditions acceptable until more robust repairs and expansion in 2027.

Other changes include:

• Resurfacing of I-90 between Osburn and Wallace was advanced four years for construction in 2023. Download a photo.
• Widening of U.S. Highway 2 underneath a railroad overpass in Sandpoint was moved up to 2023 from 2026.
• The project to expand U.S. Highway 95 south of Coeur d’Alene and modify access at the Lincoln Way/Walnut Avenue intersection was rescheduled for construction in 2024 rather than 2026.
• Resurfacing State Highway 54 from State Highway 41 to U.S. Highway 95 is now funded for 2024 instead of 2027.

Comments will be taken from July 1-31 and can be e-mailed to ITDcommunication@itd.idaho.gov or mailed to:

ITIP – Comments
Attn: Office of Communication
P.O. Box 7129
Boise, ID  83707

Paper copies of the ITIP will be provided upon request by contacting the Idaho Transportation Department (208) 334-8119.

All comments will be reviewed, incorporated into the ITIP where appropriate, and responses will be sent in September once the comment period has ended.

After approval by the Idaho Transportation Board in September, the ITIP will then be submitted to the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Transit Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency in October.

Work will begin on State Highway 200 between Pack River and Trestle Creek after the Fourth of July holiday. Crews will replace guardrail and concrete barrier near the Pack River Bridge and apply a chipseal.

The project is expected to take six weeks to complete. Guardrail replacement may require a lane closure, and temporary signals will be used to control traffic at the bridge in late July. Traffic will be reduced to one lane when crews are on site applying the chipseal.

Chipsealing is a cost-effective way to extend the life of pavement. The process involves spraying a sticky slurry on the pavement, placing rock chips on it and compressing them into place. This creates a seal that protects the pavement from water intrusion and weathering.

Drivers should be prepared for delays up to 15 minutes and check 511.idaho.gov for impacts from this project and others.

As part of Governor Brad Little’s “Leading Idaho” initiative, the 2021 Idaho Legislature dedicated $126 million of one-time funds from Idaho’s budget surplus to transportation projects statewide. The funds were split 60/40 between ITD and local jurisdictions. This project is paid for with ITD’s portion of the funds that will accelerate projects to replace bridges, restore pavements, and improve mobility in communities across Idaho.

Operations within the ongoing work zone on U.S. Highway 95 in Bonners Ferry will shift shortly after the Fourth of July holiday as crews begin paving the southbound lane.

All work this season will focus on building a three-lane section featuring wider shoulders and sidewalks on both sides between Eisenhower Street and Alderson Lane. Since construction began in April, crews have been able to place base, curb, gutter, and sidewalks for the southbound lane for the expanded highway, begin work on the proposed stormwater pond, and start light installation.

During one week of paving, traffic is expected to continue to have a lane in each direction but will be periodically stopped to allow trucks to enter and exit the work zone.

Once paving in that direction is complete, crews will shift to the middle of the highway and work at night. Drivers can expect the highway to be reduced to one lane at night for about one month. Two lanes will be open during the day when crews are not working. Wide loads more than 11 feet wide will not be allowed during the day; between 9 p.m. and 4 a.m. loads up to 13 feet wide will be allowed. Loads more than 13 feet wide will need to find an alternate route during this stage.

In mid-August, crews plan to resume daytime work to focus on the northbound lane. This phase of the two-year project is expected to end in October.

The city of Bonners Ferry has elected to landscape sections between the curb and the sidewalks with decorative rock, rather than grass as used in previous phases, due to the unforeseen extremely high maintenance costs. Property owners or individuals interested in “adopting” the section in front of their property and agreeing to maintain the grassy area, if constructed, should contact the city at (208) 267-3105 by the end of July. Sections that have been adopted for maintenance may be landscaped with grass rather than rock if a maintenance agreement can be signed.

Construction from 2018 to 2020 built similar improvements from the Kootenai River Bridge to Alderson Lane. Learn more about this project at itdprojects.org/us95bonnersferry.