Tribal discoveries, wildlife protection propel ITD projects to national awards

Cultural discoveries on a highway construction project in northern Idaho that changes the narrative for Native American heritage in the area, and the state’s first wildlife overpass, were the catalysts for a pair of awards Oct. 31 from the nation’s premiere transportation governing body.

The awards were presented to the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) at the annual meeting Thursday of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

“These two AASHTO national awards again prove that our employees are fantastic,” confirmed ITD Chief Deputy and Chief Operations Officer Dan McElhinney. “The SH-21 Lucky Peak wildlife crossing is a great partnering example, and the U.S. 95 McArthur Lake Bridge showcased excellent Tribal teamwork. Partnerships solved wildlife safety with cultural preservation success.”

The cultural award was received by Jyl Wheaton of the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho (KTOI) and ITD Project Manager on the construction, CarrieAnn Hewitt.

The project itself was fairly straightforward – an $11M project in Boundary County that rebuilt an existing two-lane section, adding wider shoulders, and replacing a box culvert over Deep Creek, which provides an outlet to McArthur Lake. The existing width-restricted box culvert was replaced with a 300-foot span bridge to provide safe animal passage under the highway. During excavation, tribal artifacts were found, requiring an orchestrated approach to planning for the preservation of these key cultural resources. A one-of-a-kind partnership was forged between ITD, the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, and contractors to preserve the rich history of the area’s indigenous people. One of the discoveries was a game-changer in terms of traditional thought. Native American artifacts were found that pre-dated the earliest-known timelines – these artifacts showed that the earliest human existence in the upper Columbia River Basin came some 4,000 years earlier than previously thought!

ITD’s Scott Rudel managed the wildlife overpass project, built on State Highway 21 just east of Boise. The $7.5M project constructed a 150-foot long wildlife overpass and more than a mile of big-game fencing parallel to the highway to guide animals to the overpass, significantly reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions on this busy highway section. Improving motorist safety and protecting the well-being of residents and commuters, along with wildlife alike benefits the traveling public, hunting and recreational heritage, and helps sustain the benefits our valuable wildlife resources and public lands provide. ITD wildlife-vehicle crash safety data and Dept. of Fish and Game GPS data determined the location of the overpass by finding where most migrating mule deer and elk crossed the highway. This is the next step in the long-range vision to promote safety, mobility, and economic opportunity along SH-21 between Lucky Peak and Idaho City. The goal is to reduce wildlife collisions in the area by 80%.

The AASHTO President’s Transportation Awards are considered the highest honor for state departments of transportation. It is proof positive that ITD consistently produces great projects on behalf of the taxpayers of Idaho. The two awards mark 23 President’s Awards received since 2014.

Public meeting to share updated plans for US-95 through Sagle

The Idaho Transportation Department will host a public meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 16, to present updated plans for improving U.S. Highway 95 between Dufort Road and Lakeshore Drive.

Project information will be on display between 4 and 7 p.m. at Sagle Elementary School, located at 550 Sagle Road. Community members are invited to stop by and speak with the project staff at any time during those hours.
Identical information and comment forms will be available online from Oct. 16-31 at itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/us-95-dufort-to-lakeshore.

“We have updated our preferred concept based on continued engineering work and community input,” Project Manager Carrie Ann Hewitt said. “We appreciate the community’s interest in this project and the feedback we have received so far.”

Since the last public meeting in fall of 2023, the project team has updated design plans to include widening US-95, building interchanges, constructing underpasses and updating the frontage road network.
ITD’s plans for US-95 build on two extensive environmental studies from 1999 and 2010 between Garwood and the Long Bridge. Both studies have resulted in numerous construction projects since then.

More information about the project is available here.

Interchange construction on SH-53 set to begin in October aimed at reducing railroad crossings on the prairie

Aerial view of vehicles waiting for a train where Pleasant View Road intersects with SH-53.

The Idaho Transportation Department is beginning construction of an interchange at State Highway 53 and Pleasant View Road in early October. The project will enhance safety in this highly traveled corridor by ultimately eliminating three railroad/vehicle crossings, streamlining access to SH-53, and increasing capacity on key routes. Work will include these primary improvements:

• Constructing a diamond interchange at SH-53 and Pleasant View Road.
• Removing access to SH-53 from four roads: Hauser Lake Road, Hollister Hills Road, Prairie Avenue, and McGuire Road.
• Expanding Pleasant View Road to two lanes in each direction through the interchange.
• Widening SH-53 to two lanes in each direction with a new center median through the project limits.

Crews will start construction with tasks that likely won’t affect existing traffic flow for the remainder of the year. Impacts to drivers are anticipated to start in spring 2025.

This project was first identified in 2006 as part of the Bridging the Valley Study. The BTV’s goal was to improve safety by separating vehicle and train traffic in the 42-mile corridor between Spokane, Washington, and Athol, Idaho. The final design was completed in 2015 with input from interested parties and the community.

In mid-2023, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration awarded ITD a grant which made construction of this project possible now, rather than years in the future. The grant program was created to improve safety at rail crossings in communities across the country to save lives, time, and resources for American families.

“Communities along SH-53 are regularly impacted by noise and blocked traffic as trains move through this area,” said Project Manager James Dorman. “This project will minimize conflict points and streamline traffic by bringing them safely through the Pleasant View Road interchange.”

Additional financial contributions were made by ITD’s partnering organizations: BNSF Railway and the Post Falls Highway District. The estimated construction cost of this project is $30 million.

People are encouraged to stay informed by visiting the project website and subscribing to emails at itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/sh53corridor. For statewide traffic information, visit 511.idaho.gov or download the app.

Lane closures on I-90 between Cataldo and Pinehurst begin Thursday for paving

Map of I-90 work zone between Cataldo and Pinehurst

Starting Thursday the Idaho Transportation Department will begin a nighttime project to resurface a 9-mile section of Interstate 90 from River Road near Cataldo to Pinehurst. This project will involve milling down the driving surface to remove fractures, ruts and flaws and replacing it with a fresh, smooth layer of asphalt.

Work will be conducted Monday through Friday, beginning at 6 p.m. each evening until 6 a.m. the following morning and is expected to be complete by early October.

Although work will be performed at night, drivers will experience single-lane closures during daytime hours as well where the roadway has been milled due to the difference in elevation between lanes.

Several on- and off-ramps within the work zone will have temporary, intermittent nighttime closures during active milling and paving but will be open during the day for access.

Exit 39 at Mission Road
Exit 40 at Latour Creek Road
Exit 43 at Kingston
Exit 45 at Pine Creek

Roadside digital signs will inform drivers of specific information regarding ramp closures.

Drivers, especially motorcyclists, should exercise caution when accessing these ramps as they travel over between milled and un-milled lanes.

This work zone will encompass ongoing work at the I-90 Coeur d’Alene River Bridges. Traffic control will be coordinated with the existing work zone to guide drivers through the area safely.

Up-to-the-minute information about lane and ramp closures, traffic impacts, and delays can be found by using the Idaho 511 system.

Hazard trees removed from North Idaho highways

Logs after a recent tree removal project along SH-5 in North Idaho.

Operators with the Idaho Transportation Department have spent over 3,000 hours clearing hazard trees from more than 12 miles of highways in the Panhandle this summer.

“In 2023 we initiated a statewide roadside tree assessment and enhanced removal plan to understand the scope of work to expand our ability to address Idaho highway hazards, “ confirms ITD Chief Deputy Director Dan McElhinney, “Working with federal partners and local owners, we have taken lead in clearing highway adjacent hazard trees for improving errant driver safety recovery zones, wildlife visibility, and fire protection widths by using innovative new cutting equipment resources for ITD employees and now adding contracts with local firms to tackle larger removal projects with ITD during the next few years.”

This summer alone ITD maintenance operators addressed a five-mile stretch of State Highway 5 near Heyburn State Park, roughly four miles of State Highway 54 between Athol and Farragut State Park, a three-mile stretch of State Highway 97, multiple zones adjacent to I-90 and several emergency tree removals across State Highway 57 after falls across the roadway.

Next year the department plans to work with the Priest River Ranger District to clear all 37 miles along State Highway 57. Besides making the road safer for travelers, tree removal is also heavily supported from the perspective of the U.S. Forest Service as a fire break through this densely wooded area between Priest River and Priest Lake.

This year staff in North Idaho were also able to test out several new machines to best utilize funding for equipment. One operation planned for two days along Interstate 90 was completed in just four hours with the use of a FAE Forestry Mulcher. The mulcher not only grinds downed trees to eliminate the cost and work of waste removal, but also has the capability to cut and fall trees up to 18 inches in diameter, which represent the vast majority of trees within the roadway clear zone. With the help of its cutting and falling capabilities, this single-operator mulcher also enhances safety by eliminating the need for sawyers to work on the ground within the fall zone.

ITD plans to continue its focus on tree removal along highways by working with agency and utility partners, dedicating staff time to this effort and purchasing new equipment to make operations safer and more efficient.

Short-term railroad crossing closure on SH-54 in Athol begins Tuesday

Traffic crosses a railroad crossing on SH-54

Starting Tuesday, our partners with the BNSF Railway will begin work on their crossing at State Highway 54 in Athol that will require the closure of this intersection for two days.

During this time drivers will need to utilize an alternate route around the work area.

Updates about this closure will be available through the Idaho 511 system, either online, by phone, or through the ap.

Temporary signals to be used ahead of traffic shift on US-95 near McArthur Lake this week

A view of the new bridge surface on US-95 near McArthur Lake

Beginning tomorrow drivers can expect to see the return of temporary traffic signals through the end of the week on US-95 near McArthur Lake as guardrail and temporary barrier are installed. By the end of Friday traffic is expected to be shifted onto the bridge, at which time, the temporary signals will be permanently removed.

The adjacent shoofly- the temporary roadway that was constructed last year to divert traffic around the bridge- will begin excavation and work to complete the wildlife underpass will begin.

This project will continue to require reduced lanes, speeds, and intermittent flagging as crews continue to work. Trucks will also be entering and exiting the highway during work days to haul excavated material.

Ongoing updates regarding traffic impacts can be found using the Idaho 511 system.

This project is expected to be completed in late October. Some work, such as final paving, will be dependent on weather conditions as we approach the fall season.

Temporary signals to increase delays in SH-200 work zone in Kootenai

Crews work to pave a new section of SH-200 near Kootenai

Starting next week, crews will begin utilizing temporary traffic signals on State Highway 200. These signals will operate 24 hours a day and reduce the roadway to one lane on the east end of the work zone.

The temporary traffic signals are expected to be in place until for approximately two weeks as crews work to construct a new embankment along the south shoulder of the highway and create the space necessary to expand the highway to include a new center turn lane.

This work also includes milling down through the existing eastbound lane to tie the new and original roadway surfaces together. Available space for through traffic will be limited to a single lane warranting the use of temporary signals around the clock, even outside of working hours. Previously the roadway has only been reduced to one lane during working hours with traffic returned to its normal configuration during nights and weekends.

During this time drivers should continue to expect delays, especially during peak times of the morning and evening commute.

Crews remain mindful of congestion and will take all reasonable steps to minimize the amount of delay drivers experience.

The Idaho Transportation Department appreciates the ongoing patience of motorists throughout this process. The new roadway will deliver a significantly improved corridor to the Kootenai community later this fall.

Once this phase of work is complete both temporary signals will be removed; however, there may be a possibility for intermittent, short term flagging operations after the removal of the signals.

By mid-September motorists can expect notable improvement in the ease of mobility through the construction zone.

This project is on track for final completion of all phases by mid- to late-October.

Nighttime resurfacing to begin next week on the Long Bridge

View of US-95 Long Bridge near Sandpoint

Starting the week of August 19 crews will return to the Long Bridge in Sandpoint and begin resurfacing the roadway. The driving surface was ground down earlier this spring to increase traction and make it safer for travel.

Work will occur overnight Monday through Friday, running from 7:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. with an expected completion date in mid-September.

During nighttime construction hours traffic will be reduced to a single, alternating lane with flaggers and pilot cars guiding motorists safely through the work zone. Drivers should expect nighttime delays throughout the month and plan ahead.

As a reminder, drivers are encouraged to slow down through work zones and stay alert behind the wheel for the safety of our crews.

Motorists can utilize the Idaho 511 system for real-time updates about ongoing traffic impacts in the area.

ITD receives BNSF ‘Tracking to Zero’ railway safety award

On July 16, the Idaho Transportation Department in District 1 was presented with the BNSF Railway Company’s inaugural “Tracking to Zero” award on behalf of the State of Idaho as one of four state transportation departments honored for dedication to improving the safety of railway grade crossings in their communities last year. Co-awardee DOTs include Montana, Wyoming, and New Mexico.

“Because trains are limited in their ability to prevent a collision, safety gains are better achieved by improving how drivers interact around railroad tracks,” said Richard Scott, BNSF’s Assistant Director of Public Projects.

This award is a first-of-its-kind initiative to recognize agencies whose proactive approach to partnership and action have resulted in less than one crossing injury incident per one million BNSF train miles traveled in their respective states per year. By working with state transportation agencies and community partners BNSF says it maintains the lowest grade crossing collision rate in the industry.

While Idaho is the 14th-largest state in the country, the Idaho portion of the BNSF Railway network exists exclusively within the Panhandle region of District 1, with approximately 130 miles of railway and 91 crossings that stretch between Bonners Ferry and Coeur d’Alene, and from the Washington to Montana state lines.

“It’s not just railroad crossings on state routes that we manage,” District Traffic Engineer Nathan Herbst said. ITD is responsible for all railroad crossings not on private property, meaning there is state responsibility for those occurring on county and local roads as well.

“As an agency, each year we make progress to upgrade more and more crossings throughout the state. Ideally, the goal for ITD is to eventually see some type of active control or signalization at every at-grade crossing in Idaho,” Herbst said.

On average, the cost to enhance these crossings can be anywhere from $500,000 to $1 million, which can come from state or federal funding or through grant opportunities.

“It truly is a team effort between the agencies,” Traffic Engineering Manager Lee Bernardi stated. Every year members of ITD’s traffic team meet with BNSF specialists in the field at various crossings to review them from a safety perspective and work together to decide the best course of action to improve safety.

“We are all experts in our own arenas, so by combining that expertise and insight from the people who are interacting with those crossings on a daily basis, like train engineers who observe fatalities, incidents and near-misses, we are able to anticipate safety risks and create a mitigation plan before a crash occurs,” said Bernardi.

Over the years, enhancements to safety have resulted from physical improvements such as constructing grade-separated crossings and enhanced signalization systems, but what has likely been the most impactful measure of success for ITD has been the meaningful and collaborative partnership with BNSF.

This relationship continually supports timely and effective safety measures embedded within routine transportation projects. It played a key role in the successful bid to secure grant funding for the SH-53 Pleasant View Interchange. That project, slated to begin construction later this summer and ultimately eliminate three at-grade crossings, will completely overhaul the safety dynamic of roadway-railway interactions along the corridor.

In 2023, several projects throughout the district served as a testament to agencies’ cohesive alliance. ITD created and posted safe access points for railway crews while they built a second railroad bridge across Lake Pend Oreille, coordinated to obtain interim railroad permits to keep active construction moving on SH-53 near Rathdrum, and worked together to overcome obstacles with regard to impacted property while expanding US-2 and improving vertical clearance under a railroad bridge in Sandpoint.

A huge point of pride with this award, according to Bernardi, is the fact that it isn’t something ITD was intentionally trying to achieve.

“We didn’t know until about a week ago that we had been selected to receive this award, so this focus on safety and prevention is honestly the organic result of our agencies commitment to the wellbeing of our transportation users and our productive partnership with BNSF,” Bernardi explained.

Add it to the list of things that make our state a wonderful place to live, work and visit—drivers in Idaho can count on peace of mind knowing that safety on our roadways, and railways, remains a top priority for all.

“We are excited at the opportunity to maintain our status as a top contender for this award for years to come and will continue to support ‘Tracking Towards Zero’ with our partners at BNSF,” Bernardi proclaimed.