Culvert repairs on North Central Idaho highways to start today

State Highway 3 culvert replacement photo.

Starting today several high priority culverts at multiple locations along U.S. Highway 95, State Highway 8, and State Highway 3 will be rehabilitated. To extend the culverts’ service lives, they need to be repaired.

The repairs will be conducted in the following order and locations:

  • SH-8 just past Troy at milepost 16
  • SH-3 between Kendrick and Deary at milepost 27
  • US-95 south of Grangeville and near White Bird Grade at mileposts 238 and 239

Motorists should exercise caution when traveling through the work zones. Crews will try to minimize impacts to traffic and most of the work should be off the roadway.

Each culvert should take about a week to complete before crews move on to the next one. All of the culvert repairs are estimated to take about a month to complete.

Culvert liners will be installed, and scour holes will be repaired. In addition, some trees may be removed, and rock will be placed to armor the inlets and outlets. This work will ultimately extend their useful life, avoiding more extensive repairs and disruptions to traffic in the future.

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.

Road closures remain on SH-3 and US-12 due to wildland fire response

Photo of SH-3 after recent fire.

Sections of State Highway 3 and U.S. Highway 12 remain closed as part of the ongoing emergency response as several wildfires sparked by Wednesday’s lightning storm continue to burn across North Central Idaho. All lanes on SH-3 are closed from Julietta to Arrow. US 12 remains closed from Spalding to Peck at the time of this release.

For current information, please continue to reference the following sources below:

Status of the fires:

Local sheriffs are responsible for ordering evacuations:

ITD resources and personnel have been mobilized from Coeur d’Alene to Lewiston to assist with the fires. Coordination with county and state law enforcement partners continues as well.

The safety of the public is a priority so please avoid the area. Therefore, only essential travel at this time is encouraged. The department and first responders appreciate your cooperation during this dynamic and evolving situation.

Sealcoats for North Central Idaho highways begin Monday

Picture of US-12 taken from a drone near the Montana State boarder.

Several sections of U.S. Highway 95, U.S. Highway 12 and State Highway 11 will begin receiving surface treatments as early as Monday. Motorists can expect work zones with flaggers and one lane of alternating traffic. The sections listed below are in the order that work will be performed:

  • US-12 from 9-Mile River access (just east of Wilderness Gateway Campground) to the Montana state line.
  • SH-11 from Grangemont Road to Headquarters.
  • US-95 from White Bird Bridge to near the top of White Bird Grade.
  • US-95 from the Goff (Time Zone) Bridge to Riggins.

Each of these sealcoats are anticipated to take between one to two weeks to complete before crews move on to the next section of highway.

Drivers are encouraged to slow down and be ready to stop when approaching a work zone. Delays may range from 15 to 30 minutes. Patience is appreciated for the safety of crews.

Sealcoats are necessary applications that preserve the road and improve the driving surface by waterproofing the roadway and increasing skid resistance for safety. Some additional crack sealing may be performed as part of this restorative maintenance.

Construction will conclude by the end of 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.

Construction starts on US-95 Grangeville Truck Route Bypass Road today

A picture of the intersection of US-95 and Truck Route Bypass Road in Grangeville.

Motorists can expect improvements at the intersection of U.S. Highway 95 and Truck Route Bypass Road at the north side of Grangeville starting today.

A northbound right turn lane and southbound left turn lane will be added to US-95.  The turn bays will enhance safety by allowing turning traffic to pull out of the travel lanes to decelerate.

Additionally, about 100 feet of the Truck Route Bypass Road will be regraded to provide a smoother transition onto US-95. Other improvements on the project will include the installation of new culverts and regraded ditches for stormwater transport.

Lane closures with flaggers and pilot car should be expected.  The work zone will be short in length and delays should be minimum at 15 minutes.

Construction will conclude by the end of September. 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.

SH-64 emergency repairs begin

Picture of State Highway 64 after the April storm event.

Repairs on State Highway 64 will commence today, following major spring flooding that has closed the road west of Kamiah since April 14.

During the construction, motorists can expect SH-64 between milepost 24 and milepost 30 to remain fully closed. Travelers are encouraged to use State Highway 162 between Nez Perce and Kamiah as an alternative.

Construction includes the installation of retaining walls, rebuilding the road base, and paving. The work zone contains several slide locations that are slated for repairs.

Trucks hauling equipment and materials will need to access the project site from both Nez Perce and Kamiah. Motorists should be aware of this significant increase in traffic during construction.

The Idaho Transportation Department and consultant partners accelerated design efforts so that construction work could be completed by this November.

For more information please visit https://itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/us-64-emergency-repair-project.

Idaho Transportation Department seeks feedback on draft seven-year transportation plan

Drone shot of I-90 weaving through the mountains in North Idaho

The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is seeking feedback on the just-released draft Idaho Transportation Investment Program (ITIP). The ITIP outlines the state’s transportation priorities and guides investment decisions for the next seven years through 2031. ITD encourages everyone to review the draft and provide comments July 1-31.

Transportation projects included in the draft ITIP range from large-scale interstate improvements to smaller projects like the installation of new guardrail. Projects are located throughout Idaho’s 44 counties and involve all modes of transportation. Project selection is determined through technical data, as well as input from local officials and residents.

Visit itd.idaho.gov/funding to view an interactive map to learn about projects and submit a comment through the portal.

This draft ITIP shows plans for $6.9 billion in funding, including $200 million dedicated to pavements and $100 million dedicated to bridges each year.

Chief Deputy Director Dan McElhinney confirmed, “With the growth of traffic accelerating the need for improvements and the impacts of inflating costs since 2020, the added annual investment in highway pavement and bridge repairs proposed in this draft ITIP plan will provide the Idaho Transportation Board effective options to consider looking ahead for Idaho.”

Comments can be emailed to itipcomments@itd.idaho.gov, recorded at 208-334-8063 or mailed to:

ITIP – Comments
Attn: Abby Peterson
P.O. Box 7129
Boise, ID  83707

Paper copies of the ITIP will be available at regional offices and provided upon request by contacting the Idaho Transportation Department at 208-334-4455.

All comments will be reviewed and incorporated into the ITIP where appropriate. Responses will be sent by September.

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.

Public input is crucial in ensuring that the ITIP includes the prioritized needs of Idaho’s communities.

Traffic to shift on the US-12 Clearwater Memorial Bridge

Picture of the new surface on the Clearwater Memorial Bridge.

Traffic on the U.S. Highway 12 Clearwater Memorial Bridge will switch from the west side to the newly constructed east side of the bridge by the end of this week. Drivers can expect at least two lanes of traffic, one in either direction.

Drivers will travel on the renovated concrete surface while crews shift their attention to the west side. The next stage of construction will mirror what was performed on the east side of the bridge.

With new facilities available on the east side for pedestrians and bicyclists, the shuttle will stop operating after the shift.

The bridge improvements enhance safety and mobility by offering wider travel lanes, shoulders, median and sidewalks. In addition, the new bridge will eliminate current weight restrictions for heavy loads and bring it up to current standards.

Bridge construction will conclude by the end this year. Live traffic impacts across the region can be found by visiting 511.idaho.gov, dialing 5-1-1 or downloading the app.

State Highway 14 to be repaved this June

Picture of State Highway 14.

Work on State Highway 14 west of Elk City will begin Monday to resurface the highway to make it smoother and last longer. As part of the improvements, the shoulder will also be paved to enhance safety for the traveling public.

During construction until the end of June, the highway will be reduced to one lane of alternating traffic guided by pilot cars between mileposts 9.5 and 16. Motorists can expect flaggers and moderate delays.

Up-to-date highway information may be found by visiting 511.idaho.gov. Travelers can also dial 5-1-1 or download the app.

Crews pave near Aht’Wy Plaza this month

Crews place concrete panels with a crane at the Aht'Wy Interchange.

Motorists should expect minor traffic changes on U.S. Highway 95 and U.S. Highway 12 at Aht’Wy Plaza near the Clearwater River Casino and Lodge as early as next week as crews prepare to pave the highway and ramps. The ongoing construction will shift in anticipation of paving operations:

  • May 13 – May 15: Concrete barrier will be removed in the center and moved to the outside of the traveling lanes. Traffic will be pushed to the outside lanes with one lane in each direction.
  • May 18: Paving will commence and take an estimated five days to complete. Traffic will shift from the inside lanes to outside lanes and vise versa. Please note the temporary entrance on the west side of the RV park will close. During this time, motorists trying to head north or south will leave the plaza at the east entrance.
  • May 23: Crews will restripe two lanes in both directions. Only one lane will be striped at a time during this switch. Traffic will switch periodically from the fast lane to the slow lane in both directions during the painting.
  • May 24: Traffic will be restored back to one lane in each direction. The temporary entrance on the west side will re-open in anticipation of Memorial Day Weekend.

The interchange is scheduled for completion in mid-November and will provide safer access to Aht’Wy Plaza by providing uninterrupted movement off and over the highway.

Live traffic impacts like these can be found by visiting 511.idaho.gov. Travelers can also dial 5-1-1 or download the app

Lane closure tonight on US-12 Clearwater Memorial Bridge

Workers on the US-12 Clearwater Memorial bridge walking over steel rebar.

Motorists can expect traffic on U.S. Highway 12 Clearwater Memorial Bridge to be reduced to one lane tonight at 7 p.m. while crews pour concrete for the new deck. Flaggers will allow traffic to take turns crossing the bridge until work is complete mid-morning tomorrow. Delays should be a maximum of 15 minutes.

 

Drivers should plan for similar delays next week when concrete will be poured for the opposing lane on the nights of May 15 and May 22. Each pour will take several hours to set, and the work is expected to go into the mid-morning hours.

 

Bridge construction will conclude by the end this year. The new bridge will enhance safety by providing wider lanes, wider shoulders for bicyclists and wider sidewalks for pedestrians. Live traffic impacts across the region can be found by visiting 511.idaho.gov, dialing 5-1-1 or downloading the app.