Category: Featured

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:

• Travel information such as closures and roadway conditions – Idaho 511 – https://511.idaho.gov/.
• Idaho State Police – https://isp.idaho.gov/category/district-2/.

Status of the fires:

• InciWeb at https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/.
• Idaho Department of Lands at https://www.facebook.com/IdahoDepartmentofLands.

Local sheriffs are responsible for ordering evacuations:

• Latah County – https://www.facebook.com/LatahCountySO or https://latahcountyid.gov/sheriff/.
• Nez Perce County – https://www.facebook.com/NezPerceCountySheriffsOffice or https://www.co.nezperce.id.us/.

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.

 

As preliminary work continues for the Interstate 90 bridges near Cataldo, crews are installing a temporary work bridge across the Coeur d’Alene River. The bridge will allow personnel and equipment access to the interstate bridges during demolition and construction.

The project is scheduled to extend from 2024 to 2026. For safety, during this time recreational access and use of the river near the construction zone will be restricted for 500 feet on both sides of the bridges.

Starting as early as next week, all marine traffic will be directed to the east side of the river until safe passage beneath the temporary bridge is established. At that time access will be restricted and through-passage on the river will be closed weekly Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. for the remainder of the 2024 construction season while crews work above the river. Examples of activities that will be restricted within the work zone include, but are not limited to, boating, kayaking, swimming, tubing, and fishing.

In late fall these restrictions will be lifted and the river will be accessible over winter months.

For both the 2025 and 2026 construction seasons, restrictions will once again be in effect from April through November inhibiting access, use and passage Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Construction will take scheduled breaks during the major summer holidays each season and access to the river will be available for recreation.

Signs will be posted locally at boat launches and access points that will update users of restrictions or changes throughout the construction process.

 

Ongoing updates for I-90 traffic impacts for this project, and projects all across the state, are available on Idaho 511 by phone, online, or on the app.

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.

 

7/25/2024 7:00 a.m. update: Rain helped the firefighting effort. Interstate 84 is currently open.

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7/24/2024 1:00 p.m. update:  Large commercial traffic is restricted until further notice on State Highway 71 between Cambridge and the Oregon state line due to fire activity.  Using SH-71 to access Oregon is not a suitable detour for interstate trucks. SH-71, between Cambridge and the Oregon state line, is narrow and winding. To maintain traffic flow and ensure safety, non-essential commercial vehicles over 26,000 pounds are now prohibited from using this route.

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7/24/2024 12:30 p.m. update: I-84 is closed due to fire activity.  The fire has reached I-84 and it is not safe for travelers. Fire officials do not want people to travel to Ontario to wait. The fire is expected to grow as winds are forecasted in the area, there’s no estimate on when it will reopen.
Consider alternative travel options and for the latest information, keep an eye on TripCheck or Idaho 511.

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7/24/2024 9:30 a.m. update: The I-84 corridor has reopened, but due to the unpredictable nature of wildfires, travelers should be prepared for potential closures and are advised not to rely on this route.

Idaho travelers are urged to use 511.idaho.gov for traffic impacts.

Oregon travelers are urged to use Tripcheck.com for up-to-date information.

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This information is from the Oregon Department of Transportation

PENDLETON – If you plan to travel across Oregon in the coming days, make sure you carefully plan your route. I-84 and many other highways in eastern Oregon may be closed or unreliable due to wildfires. With a long hot summer ahead, other fires and closures throughout the state are likely.

Wildfires are unpredictable and we have no estimate on opening times for any fire-impacted highways. Previous plans for a nighttime only closure of I-84 to remove brush along the highway were upended when the fire quickly reached the highway. Fire crews are actively fighting fire from I-84.

Travelers should use U.S. 20 to move east or west across central and eastern Oregon. If you must travel, consult Tripcheck.com and check conditions for your route. Here are some other tips while traveling in wildfire season:

• Do not follow GPS directions or detour on local or forest roads. These roads are not suitable for interstate traffic. If a highway is closed on Tripcheck.com, it is likely that nearby local roads will be closed as well.
• Expect power outages near wildfires. Treat non-working traffic lights like a four-way stop. Roadside message boards and Tripcheck cameras may also be out in these areas.
• Carry extra supplies including food and water in case your trip is delayed.
• Driving in smoke is like driving in heavy fog. Slow down but keep a steady pace and stay alert. Slow driving gives you more time to respond to unexpected conditions.
• Turn on headlights when driving in smoky areas.
• The best place to wait for a highway to open is at home. Do not travel to the closure points and wait as closures could last for days.

Fire information can be found on the National Interagency Fire Center’s website. 

 

Throughout the months of July, August and September, Idaho Transportation Department striping crews will be laying down a fresh coat of paint on large sections of highways across the Panhandle. The following schedule will help drivers to be aware of upcoming temporary work zones that may affect them and plan ahead. Every year crews stripe hundreds of miles, and on heavily traveled routes like I-90, apply two coats of paint.

JULY 

US-95 Byway in Sandpoint

                               US-95 from Sandpoint to Athol

US-95 from Athol to Coeur d’Alene

SH-41 from I-90 to Rathdrum

US-95 from Coeur d’Alene to the Latah County line

SH-53 from Rathdrum to the Washington State line

Post Falls business loop

AUGUST             

EARLY                     SH-58 from the Coeur d’Alene Casino to the Washington State line

SH-60 from US-95 to the Washington State line

SH-5 from Plummer to St. Maries

MID                         SH-3 from I-90 to the Latah County Line

SH-6 from the SH-3 Junction to the Latah County line

LATE INTO              SH-97 from I-90 to the SH-3 Junction

EARLY SEPT            SH-4 from Wallace to Burke

Wallace, Mullan, and Osburn business loops

 

During striping operations teams are organized into a line of pace cars flanking the paint truck and are followed by a crash cushion trailer to ensure the safety of the crew.  This configuration of vehicles travels slowly as they paint the roadway markings to ensure lines that will last through the year. While the paint itself is very bright, retro-reflective beads are also mixed in to help catch and reflect light to improve nighttime visibility.

Pace cars alert motorists of the operation and slow down traffic so drivers do not go over the paint before it dries. It is important for drivers to avoid drifting over the lines on either side of their lane or trying to pass where striping is in progress.

Striping operations occur primarily during daylight hours and are performed in the summer when temperatures are consistently warm enough to ensure the paint dries quickly and adheres securely to the road. Most frequently these operations are carried out during weekdays, but there are occasional needs for weekend work. Crews start as early as 5 a.m. to avoid peak commute times and try to pull off so others can pass where they have room to do so safely.

Drivers who encounter the mobile paint operations are asked to be patient for the safety of motorists and crews, and to follow the guidance of all work zone signs, especially for no passing.

Updated information will be available throughout the summer on Idaho 511.

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.

The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) will intermittently close 10th Avenue under Interstate 84 in Caldwell beginning on Monday.  These closures are necessary for crews to safely demolish the westbound lanes of the I-84 bridge. The intermittent closures will occur through September.

Motorists can expect:

• 10th Avenue will close during weekdays and may reopen on weekends.
• Traffic will detour to Centennial Way. Click here to see a detour map.
• Pedestrians will be detoured to the pedestrian overpass over I-84. Click here to see a detour map.
• Access to businesses will remain open, but routes may change during the closures.
• After 10^th Avenue reopens, crews plan to restrict it to one lane in each direction until next year.

Crews will demolish the westbound side of the bridge section by section, which will take several weeks to complete. Closing 10^th Avenue will give crews the space they need to bring multiple pieces of equipment in and out of the work zone safely.

“This closure will help us complete the bridge demo as quickly as possible while keeping the traveling public safe,” Resident Engineer Styles Salek said. “We will do everything we can to re-open 10th Avenue quickly, and we thank everyone for their patience in the meantime.”

This bridge demolition is part of ITD’s I-84 Centennial Way to Franklin Road project, which is widening the interstate to three lanes in each direction, replacing the 10th Avenue Interchange and adding a soundwall along Hannibal Street from 10^th Avenue to Centennial Way. This project is expected to be completed in 2027.

For more information about the project and to stay updated on closure dates:

• Visit: itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/I-84-corridor
• Text: Click here or text 84CORRIDOR to 1-866-483-8422
• Email: Click here or email 84CORRIDOR@itd.idaho.gov
• Call: (208) 334-8002

Please use caution when driving through the work zone. To plan your route in advance, visit 511.idaho.gov.

 

 

The Idaho Transportation Department will host community open houses next week to gather early input about a project to build a new bridge over the North Fork of the Payette River in Valley County. Nearly a century after its construction, the current Rainbow Bridge no longer meets current standards for highway bridges.

Open houses will be located both north and south of the bridge. Community members may stop by at their convenience to learn about the project and provide input.

• Tuesday, July 23: 4-7 p.m. at the Evergreen Hotel (210 N. 3^rd St., McCall)
• Thursday, July 25: 4-7 p.m. at the Horseshoe Bend School (398 School Rd., Horseshoe Bend)
• Online, July 23-Aug. 9 at itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/rainbowbridge

“ITD recognizes the Rainbow Bridge’s significance to Idaho residents and travelers,” said ITD District 3 Engineer Jason Brinkman. “Feedback from the community will be essential as we design the new bridge and make decisions about the existing bridge.”

Additional public meetings will be held as the design process continues. In addition, a Bridge Involvement Group will meet on July 17 from 4-6 p.m. at the American Legion Post (105 W. Mill St.) in Cascade. The Bridge Involvement Group is open to community members who are willing to invest a higher level of time and engagement during the design process.

The existing Rainbow Bridge was completed in 1933. Environmental and design work for a new bridge began this spring. Construction is currently proposed for 2028 or 2029.

To learn more about the Rainbow Bridge project, visit itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/rainbowbridge, call (208) 391-6580 or email info@sh55rainbowbridge.com.