Construction to widen US-95 in CDA begins Wednesday

Large truck navigating a sharp corner on US-95

Construction will begin Wednesday, April 5, to widen U.S. Highway 95 in Coeur d’Alene north of the Spokane River Bridge to increase traffic flow.

Work will last for four months, and traffic will only have one lane in each direction to get through the work zone. Drivers should plan extra time to travel on US-95 or head downtown.

The highway currently features one lane in each direction in the area, with a sharp corner near the intersection with Lincoln Way and Walnut Avenue. Work will remove the concrete median in the center of that intersection so additional through and turn lanes can be built.

“This project will end near the turn off to go downtown and the Spokane River Bridge,” Project Manager Edward Cabale said. “All of the major intersections in this short section will remain the same, except near Lincoln Way and Walnut Avenue.”

During construction drivers will not be able to access the highway from Lincoln Way or Walnut Avenue. After construction a thin concrete curb will separate northbound and southbound traffic on US-95 at the curve and change how drivers will access the two side streets:

Northbound drivers on US-95 will be able to access both streets.
Southbound drivers on US-95 will no longer have access to either street.
Drivers on Walnut Avenue will only be able to turn right on to the highway and will not be able to access Lincoln Way.
Drivers on Lincoln Way will not be able to turn on to the highway and will only be able to turn right at Walnut Avenue.

This design was developed with the City of Coeur d’Alene and public feedback from open houses in 2018 to reduce confusion at the intersection. These changes will go into effect immediately once construction starts.

View the new design here.

“The current layout of the intersection allows highway traffic to flow freely but all other movements function like a three-way stop,” Cabale said. “Simplifying this intersection will make it safer and easier to navigate.”

The existing center turn lane will be extended through Linden Avenue to help with the changes at this intersection as well as access to businesses.

Traffic impacts for this project and others are available 24/7 at 511.idaho.gov.

Construction resumes next week on the US-95 median U-turn near Sagle

Construction will resume for the median U-turn on U.S. Highway 95 next week near Sagle. Impacts to traffic will begin Monday, March 27.

Work in the coming months will include finishing the retaining wall, paving the widened portion of the highway and rebuilding the Serenity Lee Trail. Users can expect the following impacts:

One lane will remain open in each direction.
Flaggers will intermittently stop traffic for trucks entering and exiting the work zone.
The turn lane for Bottle Bay will remain reduced in length.
A detour for path users will be marked along county roads.

The median U-turn will give drivers trying to turn from Lakeshore Drive onto the highway another option to travel northbound; after construction ends in June, drivers will be able to either make an immediate left turn onto US-95 or turn right to join southbound traffic and perform a U-turn a half-mile away from the intersection to head north.

“Providing the U-turn option will reduce delays for drivers trying to get on the highway at Lakeshore Drive, as well as reduce the likelihood of near misses at this intersection,” Project Manager Phil Stout said.

Closer to Sagle, construction on a new signal at Sagle Road will continue. Work began last fall as crews started to build the signal arm and light pole foundations. Delays to traffic are anticipated to be minimal and limited to lane shifts and shoulder closures until a detour is posted in late April.

In late April, crews will close Sagle Road between US-95 and Lignite Road for up to one month. This closure will be in place for all traffic. Drivers can expect the following impacts:

Drivers on US-95 will not be able to turn eastbound onto Sagle Road.
Westbound drivers on Sagle Road will not be able access US-95.
Drivers will be detoured along Lignite Road and Bottle Bay Road to access US-95.
Only local traffic, such as school buses, emergency vehicles and residents living in the area, will be allowed through via Monarch Road.

Drivers will be encouraged to continue to use the detour even after Sagle Road opens at US-95 as not all lanes will be open to traffic until the project is complete.

“Our goal is to minimize the traffic impacts while allowing the contractor to complete the work safely,” Stout said. “We have put an incentive in the contract to encourage early completion.”

Visit the website at itdprojects.org/us95lakeshoredrive to sign up for construction updates and for more information, or check 511.idaho.gov for live traffic impacts.

Open house held March 21 for new design for 15th Street Interchange in CDA

The Idaho Transportation Department will host an open house on Tuesday, March 21, to present the proposed design for the 15^th Street Interchange in Coeur d’Alene as part of the I-90 corridor study. The study is funded by the Leading Idaho program.

With traffic conditions congested now and volumes expected to double by 2045, ITD is studying I-90 from the Washington state line to Coeur d’Alene to identify improvements to modernize the system, reduce crashes and save drivers’ time.

“We want to thank everyone for coming to the open houses for the corridor study in November,” ITD Project Manager Erika Bowen said. “Back then we were still considering alternatives for the 15^th Street Interchange, but now we’re ready to share the plans.”

This open house will focus solely on the 15^th Street Interchange. Updates on the overall corridor study will be shared at an open house later this summer, though responses to the most common comments have been published here.

Details for the open house are as follows:

Tuesday, March 21

4 – 7 p.m.

Coeur d’Alene Fire Station 3

1500 N 15th St, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814

For those not able to attend the open house, the same information will be available on March 21 at itdprojects.org/i90corridor. An online survey will be available at that link through April 4.

“The interchange has not been upgraded since it was first constructed in 1960,” Bowen said. “We have thoroughly analyzed several solutions since it provides key access to Fire Station 3, Avista Utilities, Cherry Hill Park and major residential areas.”

The study for the I-90 corridor is funded with Transportation Expansion and Congestion Mitigation (TECM) funds as part of Governor Little’s Leading Idaho initiative. The 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.

Following the study and public input, the recommended projects will be prioritized and advanced into design and construction as funding becomes available.

If you need special accommodations during an open house, please contact the study team in advance at info@i90corridor.com or (208) 738-4190.

To stay up to date on the I-90 corridor project and improvements to the 15^th Street Interchange, visit itdprojects.org/i90corridor and sign up for email updates.

Second construction season begins this month on I-90/SH-41 Interchange

Drone shot of the work zone in February 2023

The second season of construction will resume this month at the I-90 and State Highway 41 Interchange, which is funded by Governor Little’s Leading Idaho initiative.

Work this spring will primarily cause nighttime closures on I-90 and SH-41 as weather allows. Nighttime lane closures on I-90 will begin tonight, and in late March SH-41 will be closed for several nights as construction of a temporary bridge on I-90 over the highway progresses. Drivers should pay attention to signage in the work zone for exact timing of impacts.

“Everything we do is dependent on the weather particularly in these next few months,” Project Manager Shannon Stein said. “This work zone is complex, with crews planning to work on several areas of the interchange at the same time.”

Bridge construction will be the main focus of the 2023 season. Crews will work on a temporary bridge on I-90 over SH-41 to maintain traffic flow during construction as well as three permanent structures for eastbound I-90. Later this year crews will also begin building the three permanent bridges for westbound I-90.

“Unlike last year though drivers will see construction shift to other areas of the project, including the Seltice Way/SH-41 intersection and near Central Avenue to work on the future underpass for pedestrians,” Stein said.

View graphic of the 2023 construction season.

Impacts to traffic will be similar to last year and are as follows:

Two lanes will be open during the day with reduced shoulders on I-90.
The speed limit will be lowered to 55 mph on I-90 and 25 mph on SH-41 and Seltice Way.
Intermittent lane restrictions on I-90 at night. Nighttime work hours are generally from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Work will start at 10 p.m. during special events.

The best way to stay informed is to sign up for email updates by visiting itdprojects.org/i90sh41ic or by calling 208-738-4190. Live traffic impacts can also be found at 511.idaho.gov.

To learn about the future interchange and how it will function, watch this video.

The Transportation Expansion and Congestion Mitigation (TECM) funds through Governor Little’s Leading Idaho initiative allowed this $78 million interchange reconstruction project to begin one year earlier than expected. This program has allowed ITD to address rapid growth and build critical infrastructure today across the state that would otherwise have taken many years to fund and build.

First female maintenance foreman in the state set to retire

Photo of the first female foreman at ITD

Shannon Thornton will retire March 15 after about 28 years on the job in North Idaho. She is the only female maintenance foreman currently at ITD, and after HR reviewed records, she’s believed to be the only one in agency history.

She started as an hourly in the Sandpoint residency in 1994 and transitioned to maintenance in the Coeur d’Alene area within a few years. For nearly the last two decades, she has served as foreman in the Sandpoint area and then the Athol area.

“She always found a way to say ‘yes’ to anything that was asked of her,” said Dave Freeman, who works for her at the Athol shed. “And when she commits, she leads like nobody else does, but at the same time with a lot of heart and kindness.”

Freeman shared several stories and remarked on her ability to network and obtain resources for her crews. Through her leadership and relationships across the state she has initiated and overseen the construction of maintenance facilities all over the district.

D6 District Engineer Jason Minzghor served as the operations engineer while Thornton was in Sandpoint.

“She took on every challenge I gave her,” Minzghor said. “State Highway 200 was cleared of trees and brush through most of the corridor because she was so motivated. She did more in one summer clearing trees than prior foremen had in the past 20 years. I counted on Shannon to get things done.”

Her crew members and the larger emergency response community have relied on her expertise and leadership over the years. In an emergency, Thornton was the first to offer assistance wherever it was needed.

“She believed it was the right thing to do because it’s where we all live, and it’s our community too,” Freeman said.

When Thornton looks back on her career, her favorite memories are of projects that her crew was able to take on and accomplish, from ditching to restoring gabion baskets to replacing culverts.

“I have had the opportunity to work with people that are truly dedicated and are truly here to serve our customers,” Thornton said. “I have appreciated my time in maintenance and those people who have always been helpful.”

Last month she spoke to the Women in Transportation group at ITD and shared insights about serving as a woman in operations, as well as advice on servant leadership.

“Never forget as foreman you are there to get what the crew needs to accomplish their job as safely and efficiently as possible. The crew comes first,” Thornton said.

Upgrades to US-95 in Bonners Ferry to begin Monday

The final phase of a two-year project will begin Monday, March 6, to extend the three-lane section of U.S. Highway 95 from Alderson Lane to Labrosse Hill Street in Bonners Ferry.

“This project will add wider shoulders, sidewalks and lighting to the highway to make it safer and more in line with features you’d find in city limits,” Project Manager Phil Stout said.

Drivers can generally expect a lane to be open in each direction until construction ends in October. Most work will take place during the day, with some night work and detours possible as intersections and driveways are improved.

Starting next week the intersection at US-95 and Pine Island will be closed for the entire duration of construction so that it can be realigned to lessen the incline on the side street and make it easier to turn on and off the highway. All traffic will be detoured to Mirror Lake Road and Riverside Street, but there may be periods of time as the work allows when local passenger-vehicle traffic will be allowed use the intersection.

“ITD has spent four summers so far building these improvements from the Kootenai River Bridge to Eisenhower Street,” Stout said. “This is the last stretch of a multi-year project.”

Learn more about construction that first began in 2018 at itdprojects.org/us95bonnersferry.

Construction continues in Kellogg to replace two I-90 overpasses

Aerial shot of finished construction last year

Next week the Idaho Transportation Department will start the final construction season to improve safety by replacing the Interstate 90 overpasses at Division Street and Elizabeth Park Road in Kellogg.

Crews will first complete work to improve drainage throughout the work zone. After several weeks, crews will move onto replacing the westbound bridges, including full demolition and reconstruction. The final construction activities will include repaving both streets under the overpasses.

Construction is anticipated to start Monday, February 6, at which time traffic on I-90 will be restricted to one lane in each direction at all times through October.

Motorists should plan for the following impacts:

Division Street:

Both lanes will be open under the I-90 overpass with periodic closures as needed.
On-street parking under the overpass will not be allowed.
Sidewalks will be closed under I-90 with a signed pedestrian detour.

Elizabeth Park Road:

Drivers can expect one-way alternating traffic controlled by temporary traffic signals on Elizabeth Park Road under I-90.
In addition to the daily construction schedule, Elizabeth Park Road will be closed for several nights as crews complete work. Digital message boards will provide warnings at least one week in advance of any road closures.

In 2022 crews replaced the eastbound bridges and widened the eastbound on-ramp at Division Street.

The bridges date back to the 1960s. For up-to-date information on this project, please visit itdprojects.org/i90divisionelizabeth.

Construction will also begin later this spring in the Osburn area. Over the next two years, ITD will resurface I-90 from the Big Creek Exit to West Wallace Exit. This year crews will replace concrete with asphalt between Osburn and Wallace, and next year they will work between Big Creek and Wallace. Drivers can expect one lane closure in each direction on I-90 at all times during each construction season.

Travelers should check 511.idaho.gov to learn about traffic impacts.

Load restrictions to start again this Friday, be in place indefinitely

Long line of cars behind a truckLong line of cars behind a truck

Coeur d’Alene – In recent days, Idaho has experienced above average temperatures and precipitation which can lead to significant damage to highways, prompting state and local transportation agencies to enforce load restrictions. In an effort to reduce damage to roadways, the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) has made the decision to restrict several routes in North Idaho.

Starting in the evening hours of Friday (Feb. 3) load limit restrictions will be in place on four state highways in the region: SH-3, SH-5, SH-54 and SH-53. Crews will continue to closely monitor road and weather conditions to determine if more routes will be subject to load restrictions in the coming days and weeks.

“Earlier this week we were able to lift the restrictions as weather conditions stabilized, but looking ahead we need to reinstate them on the same highways as before, plus now on SH-53 from the Washington State Line to US-95,” Operations Engineer Ryan Hawkins said. “On two-lane highways like SH-53, commuters will need to plan extra time to get to their destinations and expect to be slowed down by commercial vehicles respecting the restrictions.”

Learn more about why these restrictions are important by watching this video.

Restrictions on state highways are noted on 511.idaho.gov or on the app, which was just updated last week, in the trucker mode. They apply to trucks that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or more. On state highways, vehicles of this size are required to reduce their speeds to 30 mph and weigh no more than 14,000 pounds per axle. On U.S. highways, they still must reduce their speed to 30 mph but can weigh more in accordance with legally permitted loads. Breakup restrictions are not applied on interstates.

While restrictions have the potential to cause significant congestion on highways with a mix of commercial and commuter traffic, they are a necessary preventative measure that ultimately reduces impacts and costs to drivers and citizens in the long term.

As temperatures increase, the frozen base underneath the road thaws and becomes saturated with water, which creates a weaker section below the pavement that can lead to potholes and cracks. Heavy loads can cause rapid deterioration of pavement in these conditions.

Damage may result in months of additional repairs in the summer, diverting maintenance dollars from being invested into other routes.

These restrictions are only in place as long as necessary and save taxpayer dollars from being spent on damage that could have been prevented.

I-90 no longer closed in Post Falls

Dec. 29 at 3:30 p.m.

I-90 is back open.

Dec. 29 at 10 a.m.

Westbound I-90 is closed at milepost 4 west of the Spokane Street Interchange due to an incident. The Idaho Transportation Department is setting up a detour to route drivers around the incident via State Highway 41 and State Highway 53.

The detour is expected to be in place for a significant amount of time.

Drivers are advised to seek alternate routes and to check 511.idaho.gov for updates.

US-12 east of Kooskia now open under reduced avalanche risk

A sign along US-12 warns drivers of avalanche danger

U.S. Highway 12 east of Kooskia is now open. No avalanches reached the highway during the closure.

The gates at Fish Creek (milepost 126) and Saddle Camp Road (milepost 139) closed Monday afternoon. Avalanche specialists with ITD were on site today to help local maintenance crews assess conditions and check the closure.

“The risk is no longer considerable and nothing came down, so we can safely reopen the highway,” Operations Engineer Jared Hopkins said.

Monday, Dec. 26

Several miles of U.S. Highway 12 east of Kooskia will close today at 3 p.m. PT due to considerable avalanche hazard. It is unknown when the road will reopen.

The gates at Fish Creek (milepost 126) and Saddle Camp Road (milepost 139) will close, and ITD crews are working with the U.S. Forest Service to notify any recreationists or drivers within the corridor of the impending closure.

Avalanche specialists with ITD will be on site to help local maintenance crews reassess conditions and reopen the highway. Another release will be sent once a determination to open the road is made.

“The rapid upswing in temperatures in such a short time is concerning,” Operations Engineer Jared Hopkins said. “We will keep the road closed until it is safe to reopen. In the meantime, this will mean significant delays for holiday travelers between Idaho and Montana.”

The last avalanche to reach the highway was in January. A major storm triggered an avalanche and dropped trees, closing US-12 for roughly four days.

Download a photo of road signage from last year.

Drivers should use 511.idaho.gov to stay updated on road conditions.