Category: North

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.

A new study is now underway to take a broader look at the Huetter Bypass and traffic flow in the Coeur d’Alene metro area.

“With the rapid growth in the area causing a huge increase in traffic, our existing routes are experiencing low levels of service, and drivers don’t have quick ways to get around,” said Joey Sprague, who will manage the study for the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD). “With this study we’ll look at the way the local and state routes in the area work as a system, and that starts by evaluating the work that’s already been done so that we can chart a path forward.”

The first phase of the study will review work previously done by the Kootenai Metropolitan Planning Organization on the idea to expand Huetter Road to serve as another north-south freeway connecting I-90 and U.S. Highway 95 north of Hayden.

The study is expected to encompass a larger area between I-90, US-95, State Highway 53 and State Highway 41 to identify the pain points and how to address them given growth in the area. Solutions may include a range of options, like modifying existing routes or building new ones.

“Right now it’s about understanding regional traffic and how it interplays with the original Huetter corridor study, especially since some studies are dated,” Sprague said. “For this first phase of the study, we’re just gathering data. In future phases of the study, we’ll let the data point to options including and beyond the bypass, and once we have vetted some of those ideas, we’ll ask the public to weigh in.”

ITD officially took over planning for the bypass in October and is managing the latest study being conducted by HDR, Inc.

“It took more time than expected to determine the scope of the study and hire a company to do the work, but the study will now officially kick off this month,” Sprague said. “We expect to have more information available on it later this summer.”

Nighttime lane closures on I-90 over the next two months will collect data for a study to widen Interstate 90 between the Washington state line and Sherman Avenue in Coeur d’Alene.

Crews will focus on the section between Spokane Street and Northwest Boulevard, closing either a shoulder or lane in one direction at a time. Work will be done at night between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m., with the first closure scheduled for tomorrow night.

“The closure will move along the stretch as work progresses, spanning approximately one-quarter to one-half mile in length at any given time,” ITD Project Manager Erika Bowen said.

Drivers are asked to be aware of closures, to slow down and move to the open lane.

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, modernize the system, reduce crashes and save drivers’ time. The study will evaluate needs and identify potential solutions like additional lanes and reconfigured interchanges to improve safety, capacity and mobility for current and future travel demands.

The work requiring this lane closure will investigate the pavement and foundations along the stretch using radar, drilling and other technologies to determine current surface conditions and the ability of the soil to support any potential new structures.

“Right now, we are collecting data to identify which improvements are needed and expect to bring options to the public this September,” Bowen said.

To learn more about the study and sign up for future updates, visit itdprojects.org/i90corridor. 

This study is funded with Transportation Expansion and Congestion Mitigation (TECM) funds. This deliberate investment of Leading Idaho TECM funds allows ITD to accelerate project timelines to address rapid growth and build critical infrastructure in the CDA area that would otherwise take many years to build.

Starting Monday, May 9, crews will start working at night to haul away waste materials for construction to widen three miles of State Highway 3 near St. Maries.

“This will really impact residents along the detour route, since trucks will need to use Goosehaven Road to access the site,” Project Manager Matt Heinichen said.

Crews will continue to work on SH-3 during the day, but now residents and other drivers will have to contend with increased truck traffic and noise on Goosehaven Road, starting at 8 p.m. each night. A pilot car will be in use during the day, but between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. trucks will travel in groups with traffic controlled by a flagger.

“Night work is expected to last one month until workers are done excavating the northbound lane,” Heinichen said. “Right now there’s not enough space to have trucks to efficiently deliver materials to the site and haul away waste at the same time.”

Download a photo of excavation on SH-3.

Plans call for the highway to be widened by 11 feet to the east, making room for 11-foot travel lanes and 3-foot shoulders. Guardrail will be installed along the east side, with the project set to be complete in August.

Learn more about the project at itdprojects.org/stmariesdike.

The Idaho Transportation Department will host an open house on Thursday, April 21, for construction later this summer on U.S. Highway 95 between Sagle Road and Lakeshore Drive.

The open house will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Northern Lights building at 421 Chevy Street in Sagle. Information about the project’s timeline, construction impacts and future plans for the US-95 corridor will be provided. No formal presentation will be given, but the project team will be available to answer questions.

The first phase of the project started in fall 2021 and built a new acceleration lane for drivers turning from Lakeshore Drive to head south on US-95. Earlier this week, crews started installing signs in the area and plan to finish striping as soon as weather allows.

“We need two days of good weather to put down fresh paint, so pay attention to signage in the area to know when your commute will be impacted,” ITD Project Manager Phil Stout said. “Two-way traffic will be maintained while the crews work during during the day.”

Construction for the second phase of the project is anticipated to start in August 2022. This season a U-turn on US-95 will be built as an alternative for drivers wanting to turn left from Lakeshore Drive, and the highway will be repaved from Monarch Road in Sagle to the Long Bridge. Next spring, a signal will be installed at the US-95 and Sagle Road intersection with a detour in place for Sagle Road east of the intersection.

“We know drivers have been dealing with potholes all spring, so we added work to the project to address that concern,” Stout said. “Our operations staff will continue to fill them in as needed, but this should provide long-term relief.”

The median U-turn and repaving will be completed by winter. During the U-turn construction, two-way traffic will be maintained during daytime hours, but during nighttime repaving, the highway will be reduced to one lane.

“Some of these details are subject to change once we have a contractor on board, but we want drivers to be aware of what is coming and know how to use the new U-turn,” Stout said.

The open house will also share an unfunded, potential concept for improvements at Bottle Bay Road, as well a study now underway to provide more details on what US-95 will look like in the future.

Join the project team at the open house or visit the website at itdprojects.org/us95lakeshoredrive to view construction updates and more information.