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.

US-95 lane closure near Reisenauer Hill south of Moscow

Picture of the highway and construction area near Reisenauer Hill.

Motorists are asked to slow down in the work zone for a closed lane near Reisenauer Hill on U.S. Highway 95 south of Moscow as part of ongoing realignment and expansion.

Travelers can expect the southbound right lane to be closed through mid-May with speeds reduced to 35 mph in the two-mile work zone. Intermittent flagging operations, additional lane closures, and other changing conditions will impact traffic.

In early May Eid Road will be closed and restricted to local traffic only for approximately 10 weeks. Construction off this road is the site for two bridges on the realignment.

Once temporary lanes are built around the work area in mid-May, drivers will be able to travel at 45 mph. One lane will be open in each direction.

Expanding the highway to four lanes on a new alignment will not only add capacity and reduce travel times but also significantly improve safety. To learn more about the project please visit itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/us95thorncreektomoscow.

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 onto mobile devices.

Construction to repave US-95 near Whitebird begins

Picture of US-95 near Whitebird bridge.

Motorists can expect construction on U.S. Highway 95 this Monday as crews start resurfacing 13 miles between milepost 210 and Whitebird.

Work will restore the roadway and provide a smoother traveling surface to improve mobility through this vital corridor. Sections of guardrail will also be updated to current standards for enhanced safety.

Over the next few months, travelers can expect the following traffic shifts on US-95:

  • Mid-April through mid-May: One-lane closed during the day.
  • Mid-May through mid-July: One-lane closed during the day and night.
  • Mid-July through mid-October: One-lane closed during the day.

Drivers should reduce speed and be on the lookout for flaggers and/or pilot cars in operation. Wait times are estimated to be around 15 minutes but should not exceed 30 minutes.

The cost for the project is $17.3 million.

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 closed near Kamiah due to rockfall, flooding

Picture of a rockslide and flooding on the highway.

Two highways west of Kamiah were closed until further notice due to rockfall and flooding. State Highway 64 is closed from milepost 24 to milepost 30, and State Highway 162 is closed from milepost 14 to milepost 22.

SH-64 and SH-162 closed last night. Besides the significant debris, the road has received structural damage from the washout.

“Crews have been working hard since late last night to clear dozens of debris flows,” Operations Engineer Jared Hopkins said. “Please watch for our operators staffing the barricades and be prepared to turn around or find an alternate route.”

Travelers between Nez Perce and Kamiah are advised to use U.S. Highway 12 and U.S. Highway 95.

Updates on these closures will be posted to 511.idaho.gov. Travelers can also dial 5-1-1 or download the app.

Bridge repair project across North Central Idaho begins Monday

Bridge repair project across North Central Idaho begins Monday.

Approximately 10 bridges across North Central Idaho are slated for repair and preservation work this spring, with work first beginning Monday at the bridge on State Highway 6 over the Palouse River near Harvard.

Delays for all of the bridge work this spring will be minimal, but drivers should use caution when crews are working on the bridge decks.

Surface treatments will extend the life and improve the riding surfaces of the bridge decks. Concrete waterproofing treatments will also be applied to various components of the bridges for enhanced preservation.

The bridges are in Latah, Nez Perce, Clearwater, and Idaho counties respectively:

  • State Highway 14 over the South Fork of the Clearwater River
  • State Highway 11 over Jim Ford Creek
  • SH-11 over Orofino Creek
  • SH-11 over Quartz Creek
  • SH-6 over the Palouse River
  • State Highway 8 over Paradise Creek
  • U.S. Highway 95 over Palouse River
  • US-95 over the South Fork of the Palouse River
  • US-95 over Cow Creek
  • US-95 over Paradise Creek

Construction will conclude by the end of June. 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.