With Labor Day right around the corner, parents and children are likely counting down the days to the end of summer, but they should consider a different number: 86.
That’s at least how many people have died on Idaho routes so far during what is called the 100 Deadliest Days, or the time between Memorial Day and Labor Day when fatalities increase statewide ever year. Of those 86 fatalities, 10 were in the northern five counties.
Law enforcement provides safety data like this to the Idaho Transportation Department to help monitor highway conditions and plan for changes when possible. North of the Latah county border, ITD pays special attention to the following high-speed and congested areas: the intersections of Prairie Avenue and US-95, Prairie Avenue and ID-53, Prairie Avenue and ID-41, Hauser Lake Road and ID-53, and Ramsey Road and ID-53.
From adding turn lanes and to constructing new interchanges, ITD has plans to address safety concerns at these locations but wants drivers to exercise awareness and caution for the rest of this summer.
Engineers can design safer highways, and officers can patrol them, but what drivers do behind the wheel can affect their safety more than anything else on the road.
Be engaged, and drive well these last two weeks, Idaho.
Work to resurface five miles of US-95 between Cougar Creek and Mica Creek is scheduled to begin August 6 and last for two months.
During construction, at least one lane will remain open in each direction, and flaggers will guide traffic at major intersections.
As ITD resurfaces the highway near intersections, travelers can expect brief closures. Emergency access will be maintained.
Crews are expected to work during the day with some possible weekend shifts.
Safety improvements to US-95 near Plummer will begin this week, with work expected to be completed in October.
Two bridges over Moctileme Creek will be replaced, and US-95 at the intersection of Windfall Pass Road will be realigned.
During the initial phase of construction, two lanes will remain open as crews construct an additional lane to be used as the bridges are demolished and rebuilt, one half at a time.
Once the temporary lane is finished, crews will start removing part of the old bridges, and travelers should expect delays and alternating, one-way traffic through the work zone.
When crews are not on site, the highway will be open to two lanes.
A 2013 study previously identified the Windfall Pass Road area as the site of the most frequent and severe crashes in the northern five counties, and since then, ITD has been designing this project to make it easier for drivers to negotiate the curve and to access the intersecting road.
For the latest traffic impacts, check 511.
The Idaho Transportation Department will share plans to improve safety on US-95 north of Athol at an open house Tuesday, July 31 at the Athol Community Center.
Proposed safety improvements to US-95 near Granite Hill include:
– Construction of continuous frontage roads on both sides of the highway
– Realignment of the Trails End Road intersection
– Possible expansion of the highway to two lanes in both directions
Members of the public may stop by any time between 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. to learn more and to comment.
Those unable to attend the open house may also comment online between July 31 and August 14 by visiting itd.idaho.gov/d1, finding the “Projects” tab and selecting “US-95: Granite North Improvements.”
The Idaho Transportation Department invites members of the public to comment on proposed safety improvements to US-95 at the intersections of Idaho Highway 53 and Garwood Road by attending an open house.
The open house will be held Wednesday, August 1 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the district office in Coeur d’Alene.
“US-95 is a primary north-south corridor through a rapidly developing area,” ITD project manager Joey Sprague said. “ITD has been planning for how to address growth and safety needs along this corridor for more than a decade, and we are excited that funding is now available to construct these improvements.”
The proposed project will:
- Construct a new single-point urban interchange at US-95 and ID-53.
- Realign and widen the shoulders of ID-53 from Ramsey Road to intersect more directly with US-95.
- Replace the existing deficient ID-53 bridge over the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR).
- Provide an overpass at Garwood Road over US-95 and the UPRR (eliminate direct access to US-95 at Garwood Road).
- Extend Government Way as an east-side frontage road from ID-53 to the intersection of Garwood and Pope Roads.
- Construct a roundabout at ID-53 and Government Way.
- Extend pedestrian and bicycle facilities.
This project will improve safety while also planning for future growth and mobility in the area. Additionally, eliminating traffic signals on US-95 at ID-53 and Garwood Road will allow for a speed limit increase on US-95 to 70 mph through that section.
The final design is scheduled to be complete by spring 2019, and construction is scheduled to start during summer 2019. The project is estimated to cost $41 million to construct.
Planning for this project started in 2010 with the completion of a study of US-95 between Garwood and Sagle. In 2017, ITD started designing the realignment of ID-53 and the replacement of the bridge over the UPRR. The project scope expanded in mid-2017 to include a new ID-53 interchange, an overpass for Garwood Road and frontage roads when additional funding was secured through the GARVEE Expansion Program.
Members of the public can contact the project team by emailing US95Corridor@itd.idaho.gov or calling (208) 772-1200. For more information and to comment online until August 15, visit itd.idaho.gov/d1, find the projects tab and select “US-95: ID-53 Interchange.”
The Idaho Transportation Department invites the public to attend an open house Thursday, July 26 to learn more about the second stage of US-95 reconstruction through Bonners Ferry.
The open house will be held at the high school gymnasium between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Those unable to attend may comment online from July 26 to August 10. This open house will focus solely on the second stage of improvements, which does not include the removal of the signal at Alderson Lane.
During the second stage of reconstruction, improvements will be made between Alderson Lane and Labrosse Hill Street. Proposed safety and mobility improvements include:
– The creation of a consistent three-lane highway with wider shoulders
– The addition sidewalks along both sides of the roadway to increase pedestrian safety and provide greater access to businesses
– An updated stormwater system to improve drainage
– New lighting to improve visibility
To find the project website, visit itd.idaho.gov/d1, find the “Projects” tab and select “US-95: Bonners Ferry Reconstruction.”
Design for this stage is scheduled for completion in the fall of 2019, with construction set to begin in 2021.
Update: Repairs will now begin the week of July 23.
Repairs to Idaho Highway 5 near Plummer will begin the week of July 9.
Construction will fix damage caused by a March 2017 landslide at milepost 5.8. Crews will remove and replace unstable material below the highway. New material is designed to anchor the hillside and prevent future landslides.
Travelers can expect short delays while flaggers and signals guide traffic through the one-lane work zone. Crews will typically be on site every day but Sunday.
Construction will last two months. Check 511 for the latest traffic updates.
To extend the life of previously completed highway projects, sealcoats will be applied to several highways throughout the region starting the week of July 9.
When sealcoats are applied, roadways will be reduced to one lane. Motorists should anticipate short delays and watch for the presence of pilot cars.
Sealcoating is a roadway surface treatment best applied during the hot and dry months of summer when chips of aggregate will properly adhere to an oil layer deposited on the highway. The newly-treated surface helps preserve the pavement and provides for better vehicle traction.
Drivers are cautioned to slow down and pay attention within the work zones, as chips placed during the sealcoating process have the potential to cause windshield damage.
Sealcoating projects scheduled to occur this summer along with their anticipated start date, location and length are as follows:
- July 9: Idaho Highway 3 — approximately 31 miles from the Coeur d’Alene River Bridge to the Canyon Creek Road area
- July 16: Idaho Highway 58 — approximately 3 miles from the Washington border to the US-95 junction
- July 17: Idaho Highway 54 — approximately 3.5 miles from the Goodhope Road traffic circle through Farragut State Park
- July 18: US-95 — approximately 6 miles from Fawn Lane to the Idaho Highway 1 junction
- July 19: US-95 — approximately 19 miles from Samuels Road to Tamarack Street
Crews will repaint the highways after sealcoating. All work is expected to be completed by early August.
Crews are currently working to stabilize and prepare to remove the overhead sign structure on the Kootenai River Bridge just north of Bonners Ferry this evening after it appears to have been struck by a vehicle.
The steel sign structure, which is estimated to weigh approximately 10,000 pounds, remains bolted in place next to the northbound lanes, but the post near the southbound lanes has become detached. The sign structure remains upright but could be blown over by strong winds.
Crews are on site, ready to close the bridge to traffic if necessary. ITD has contracted a private company to remove the sign with a crane, which is expected to arrive in the next few hours. All lanes will be closed during removal of the sign structure. However, the bridge may close even earlier if strong winds threaten the stability of the damaged sign structure.
During the removal of the sign, all lanes will be closed. Travelers should expect other traffic impacts while crews set up the crane, remove the sign and disassemble the sign and the crane.
Please exercise caution in the area as ITD adjusts traffic flow while addressing this safety issue.
Work will begin during the week of June 25 to repave ten miles of US-95 through Plummer to Moctileme Creek.
Travelers can expect alternating, one-way traffic during construction, which is scheduled to last until mid-August. Crews plan to be on site Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The highway will open to two lanes at night, and alternating entrances to businesses in town will be accessible at all times.
For the latest traffic impacts during construction, check 511.
