Work on the I-90 bridges near Cataldo will begin to impact traffic
Starting next week drivers will be required to slow down and merge into a single lane in both directions as work resumes to reconstruct the Interstate 90 bridges over the Coeur d’Alene River near Cataldo. These bridges were first built in 1964 and are ready for replacement.
As early as mid-March all traffic will be shifted on to the westbound side of the interstate to allow crews to demolish and reconstruct the eastbound bridge. Next year, the westbound bridge is scheduled for replacement with traffic shifted to the new eastbound bridge. Work will end in late 2026.
River and trail users will also experience impacts during the 2025 construction season.
River Impacts
Beginning April 1 recreational access and use of the river, including boating, kayaking, tubing, swimming and fishing will be restricted for 500 feet on both sides of the bridges Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Boat launches outside of the work zone will remain available for use, though no one will be able to pass underneath the structure during working hours for safety reasons.
Construction will take scheduled breaks during the major summer holidays and access to the river will be available for recreation.
Signs will be posted locally at boat launches and access points that will update users of restrictions or changes throughout the construction process.
Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes Impacts
During construction trail users should be aware that there may be intermittent closures of five or ten minutes as equipment and materials are transported across the trail during day to day operations. Flaggers will be present during these closures to ensure safe crossing for crew members, vehicles and trail users.
Trail users should exercise caution in areas adjacent to the work zone for the possibility of loose dirt or gravel on the trail surface.
In 2024 a temporary work bridge was constructed across the river to provide crews and equipment access. Crossover lanes were also constructed on both ends of the work zone to allow for vehicles to be shifted during construction to maintain the flow of traffic.
This project is one of several that will dot the I-90 corridor from the Washington state line to the Silver Valley in 2025, including expanding the freeway to four lanes between Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene, upgrading the I-90 State Highway 41 Interchange, and repaving from Wolf Lodge to Fourth of July Pass.
Drivers are encouraged to use the Idaho 511 system, either online, by phone or through the app, for updates on conditions and traffic impacts throughout the construction season.
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%.
