Starting Monday crews will resume work on rocky slopes near Riggins on U.S. Highway 95.
South of Riggins at milepost 189 in the vicinity of the Sheep Creek Rest Area, scalers will install reflective prisms on the rock face above the roadway to monitor slope movement and will remove loose rocks for safety.
Intermittent delays of up to 20 minutes between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. are likely for the next week. Flaggers will hold traffic in both directions to keep everyone safe with rocks coming off the slope. Crews will periodically allow one lane of traffic through the work zone.
North of Riggins at milepost 196.5, in the vicinity of “Bull’s Eye Corner,” crews will also close the shoulder and replace damaged signs as part of safety efforts that started last fall.
Rocks may be present in the roadway and motorists should always exercise caution when traveling though this river corridor.
Live traffic impacts across the region can be found by visiting 511.idaho.gov. Travelers can also dial 5-1-1 or download the app.
Starting Sunday drivers will be able to take all six miles of the new four-lane section of U.S. Highway 95 from Reisenauer Hill to Moscow.
Drivers had only been able to travel the first five miles that opened in early July as crews needed to finish work at the Thorn Creek Bridge. With the bridge now complete, drivers can experience the route with minimal delays. Some construction will continue over the next several weeks as crews finish installing permanent barrier, signs, delineators and rumble strips.
Construction of this nearly $90 million realignment began in 2022 to shift the curving, two-lane highway to the east and expand it to four lanes. The new route was funded partially by Governor Little’s Leading Idaho program and was designed to be safer with a flatter grade, fewer curves and better access control.
“We are honored and pleased to provide this much-needed expansion to the region,” District Engineer Doral Hoff said. “Completing this last portion between Lewiston and Moscow gives drivers a safer and more efficient route.”
The project first began in 1999 when the Idaho Transportation Department started efforts to expand all of US-95 to four lanes from the top of Lewiston Hill to Moscow. This six-mile segment was the last to be improved, with most of the corridor undergoing construction in the early 2000s.
Travelers on U.S. Highway 95 and State Highway 3 should plan for flagging operations to be in effect next week as the Idaho Transportation Department conducts valuable geotechnical investigations on these routes. Operations will involve boring into the roadway to allow ITD to plan for resurfacing projects scheduled to be completed next year.
Work on SH-3 will begin on Monday and run from milepost 13 to 18 at the bottom of Bear Ridge Grade. Traffic will be reduced to one lane, with flaggers indicating movement for each direction. Delays are expected to be less than 15 minutes. This work zone will be active for just two days, with exploratory drilling anticipated to be completed on Wednesday.
Escape ramps and turnouts in this vicinity of SH-3 will be closed while work is underway. A traffic control crew will notify truckers at the brake check area on the top of the grade.
One lane will also be closed on US-95 beginning next Wednesday from milepost 241 to 251 near Grangeville in the Johnston Road area. These efforts are expected to be completed by Friday.
The work schedule is subject to weather conditions and may change. Updates and information on these work zones and others across Idaho can always be found on the Idaho 511 app or by visiting 511.idaho.gov.
Beginning this Wednesday, motorists using U.S. Highway 95 from Lewiston to Moscow will see greater delays at the Thorn Creek work zone as crews pour concrete.
A speed reduction will be in place over the Thorn Creek Bridge that will cause delays of approximately 20 minutes. Delays could be longer during commuting hours. Traffic will be slowed to a strict 5 mph over the structure to ensure vibrations do not impact the curing process for the high-strength concrete. Concrete work is expected to be done on Wednesday, with curing necessary on Thursday and Friday. Restrictions will be in effect, though there may not be active work on site.
Drivers are encouraged to plan ahead and avoid delays by taking State Highway 8 and then the Moscow-Pullman Highway in Washington as an alternate route.
Work at the Thorn Creek Bridge is one of the few remaining steps in completing the new four-lane section from Reisenauer Hill to Moscow. Construction began in 2022 to shift the curving, two-lane highway to the east and expand it to four lanes. The nearly $90 million realignment was funded partially by Governor Little’s Leading Idaho program and was designed to be safer with a flatter grade, fewer curves and better access control.
Five miles of the new alignment opened to traffic in early July. This last mile is expected to be complete by November.
Traffic updates on this project and others across Idaho can always be seen on the Idaho 511 app and at 511.idaho.gov.
Crews are out on U.S. Highway 95 near the Aht’Wy Plaza installing safety features and signage to help guide travelers through the interchange. They will also remove and repave nearly 100 feet of pavement to fix a soft spot near the east side of the interchange.
Caution is advised when approaching the work zone as flaggers may be present on either side of the highway. Motorists can expect at least one travel lane to be closed in each direction and may experience delays of up to 30 minutes. Crews will be working weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. All work is estimated to take two weeks to complete.
To improve safety yellow tubular delineators will be permanently adhered to the centerline to separate opposing traffic and deter southbound motorists from making dangerous left turns across the highway.
Also, green directional signage will be posted at critical locations and new pavement markings will be painted to enhance navigation around the plaza. Southbound travelers wanting to access the gas station or casino must use the exit at Nez Perce Drive. Only northbound travelers may use the right-hand turn lane to exit into the gas station. Both directions of travel on the highway may continue to use the interchange to access the plaza.
Up-to-date traffic information may be found by visiting 511.idaho.gov. Travelers can also dial 5-1-1 or download the app.
Work on State Highway 14 near Elk City will begin Monday to repair potholes and resurface 10 miles of the highway. Shoulders in poor condition will also be repaved to further enhance safety.
When approaching the work zone, motorists can expect flaggers and delays between 15 to 30 minutes. The highway will be reduced to one lane of alternating traffic guided by pilot cars. Crews will start at milepost 23 and work east towards milepost 33 and Elk City.
All work will temporarily shut down by 6 p.m. on August 7 in preparation for Elk City Days held August 8-10. Highway crews will start back up again on August 11.
Paving will significantly improve rideability and make it a safer road for the traveling public.
This $2.5 million project is anticipated to wrap up mid-September.
Up-to-date traffic information may be found by visiting 511.idaho.gov. Travelers can also dial 5-1-1 or download the app.
One lane of U.S. Highway 95 north of Riggins near Fiddle Creek is open after a mudslide closed the road completely. A lane has been cleared, and drivers can expect a pilot car with alternating directions of traffic through the slide zone.
Drivers should be prepared to stop and use caution when approaching the area. ITD crews continue to perform cleanup work with heavy equipment in preparation to open the roadway completely.
“We are very pleased to announce that after many hours of hard work that there is a safe pathway through the mudslide,” Field Operations Manager Larry Tillinghast said. “Even on holidays, our operators heed the call and are ready to tackle any emergency thrown at them. Please give them a wave for they have more work to do before returning to their families.”
ITD remains committed to keeping our state network open and thanks everyone for their patience during this emergency clean up.
Additional updates will be posted to 511.idaho.gov. Travelers can also dial 5-1-1 or download the app.
U.S. Highway 95 north of Riggins near Fiddle Creek is currently closed in both directions until further notice due to a mudslide. The highway is closed from milepost 200 to milepost 201.
Drivers should be prepared to stop when approaching the closure from either direction. It is unknown when the road will reopen, but ITD crews are bringing in heavy equipment to clear a lane through. Besides clearing significant debris, the road will then need to be evaluated for structural damage from the washout.
“Our crews are out and ready to clear a lane through as a priority,” Field Operations Manager Larry Tillinghast said. “Please use caution when approaching the barricades to help keep everyone safe including the operators who have important work to do. We ask at this time that all motorists be prepared to turn around or find an alternate route if possible.”
Updates on this closure will be posted to 511.idaho.gov. Travelers can also dial 5-1-1 or download the app.
Resurfacing operations are slated to start next week on portions of U.S. Highway 95, Washington Street and State Highway 8 in Moscow.
US-95 will be repaired between SH-8 and Rodeo Drive. SH-8 will be repaired from W. 7th Street east to the concrete section at East Veatch Street.
At least one lane will remain open through the work zone at night. Lanes will mostly be open during the day. Most of the work will be performed at night between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. Parking on Washington Street will not be allowed during these hours.
Some sidewalk sections near the northeast corner of Seventh Street may be temporarily closed, and pedestrians will be rerouted for minor curb and sidewalk work. A map of the impacted areas can be downloaded here for reference.
Construction costs $2.9 million. Work is expected to end in late August.
Live traffic impacts across the region can be found by visiting 511.idaho.gov. Travelers can also dial 5-1-1 or download the app.
Later today drivers will be able to take the new four-lane section of U.S. Highway 95 from Reisenauer Hill to Moscow as work wraps up on this nearly $90 million realignment.
Construction began in 2022 to shift the curving, two-lane highway to the east and expand it to four lanes. The new route was funded partially by Governor Little’s Leading Idaho program and was designed to be safer with a flatter grade, fewer curves and better access control.
“We are very appreciative of the patience of the public with our construction as we complete this long-awaited and outstanding addition of infrastructure to our system,” District Engineer Doral Hoff said. “This improvement will make travel significantly safer, especially as we see Idaho’s population grow. This project and others are evidence of ITD’s commitment to safety and efficiency for the traveling public. We take your safety on the road seriously.”
The project first began in 1999 when the Idaho Transportation Department started efforts to expand all of US-95 to four lanes from the top of Lewiston Hill to Moscow. This six-mile segment was the last to be improved, with most of the corridor undergoing construction in the early 2000s.
After highway traffic is shifted on to the new alignment, North Latah Highway District will assume ownership of the old section that will be renamed Reisenauer Road. Construction of the bridge over Thorn Creek at the southern end will continue impacting traffic through the fall, and drivers will only be able to access Reisenauer Road at the northern end near Moscow.