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Stay safe on Idaho’s snowy roads: ITD’s winter driving tips

Hwy 20 in the snow.

BOISE— Are you “Idaho Ready” for winter driving? The Gem State is magical when it’s blanketed in snow, and the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) wants to make sure everyone is prepared to enjoy it safely. Now is the time to prepare yourself and your vehicle for winter conditions.

“There is so much to love about Idaho in the snow, but drivers who want to get out there and enjoy it need to be careful,” said ITD Director Scott Stokes. “Giving driving your full and undivided attention combined with an extra measure of caution could be what keeps you from having irreversible regrets.”

Your safety is ITD’s top priority. When it snows, hundreds of ITD employees work around the clock to keep our more than 12,000 lane miles of highways safe for the traveling public. But plowed roads are only one part of a safe ride this winter. Here are some steps to ensure you are “Idaho Ready.”

  • If you see a snowplow on the road, give it plenty of room to do its job. The safest place is behind the plow. Last winter, 17 people crashed into snowplows in Idaho.
  • Make sure your car is ready for winter by checking your windshield wiper fluid, battery, and tires. Consider winter tires for extra traction. If you have tire chains, learn how to put them on before you need them.
  • Create a winter car emergency kit, or if you have one from last winter make sure the supplies are in good condition.
  • Download the Idaho 511 app or bookmark 511.idaho.gov so you can check road conditions before you drive.
  • It’s going to take longer to get everywhere once the snow starts falling. Plan extra time for all your trips and be patient with your fellow drivers.
  • When roads are wet or icy, slow down and give yourself more stopping distance. Turn off cruise control and remember, bridges and overpasses are the first to freeze when temperatures drop.
  • If you do slide, stay calm, brake very gently, and turn your wheel in the direction of the skid. Try not to overcorrect.

For more winter safety driving tips visit itd.idaho.gov/travel/?target=idaho-ready.

Detour planned for Monday at Fort Hall (Exit 80)

Construction at interchange

FORT HALL – The northbound off-ramp at the Fort Hall Interchange (Exit 80) is scheduled to close Monday at noon as crews finish paving the new off-ramp. Work is expected to be completed by 5 p.m.

The closure will last approximately four hours and is dependent on favorable weather conditions. During the closure traffic will be detoured to Exit 89.

The Fort Hall Interchange is undergoing a complete reconstruction to replace the outdated bridge and improve on- and off-ramps. The redesign also allows for the planned three lanes northbound and southbound on I-15. Those wishing to learn more about the project can visit https://itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/i-15-fort-hall-interchange.

 

Online open house available now for plans to repave I-15 in Blackfoot

BLACKFOOT – The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is hosting an online open house starting today, Nov. 1, through Nov. 14 to share design plans and gather input for a repaving project on Interstate 15 from the South Blackfoot Interchange (Exit 89) to the U.S. Highway 26/Blackfoot Interchange (Exit 93).

Community members can join the online meeting at https://itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/i-15-blackfoot-repaving.

While ITD is also developing plans to widen I-15 to three lanes in each direction between Pocatello and Idaho Falls, the pavement has deteriorated and needs repair. Repaving this portion of I-15 in 2025 will enhance safety and extend the life of the roadway until funding is available to widen it.

Project plans are being designed based on technical data, an environmental evaluation and input from the community. This will be the only meeting that ITD will host to discuss this project. Additional meetings will be scheduled in the future for the widening project.

Those who are interested in learning more are welcome to visit the project website at https://itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/i-15-blackfoot-repaving, email info@pocatellotoidahofalls.org or call 208-252-5553.

Public invited to provide input on plans to replace US-95 and US-12 bridges over Clearwater River

View of Spalding Bridge

The Idaho Transportation Department is hosting a public meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 8, for the community to learn more, ask questions, and provide input for studies underway to replace two aging bridges east of Lewiston.

The public meeting will share preliminary design plans for the Spalding Bridge on U.S. Highway 95 and the Arrow Bridge on U.S. Highway 12. The meeting will be open-house format for the community to drop in between 4 and 7 p.m. at the Clearwater River Casino and Lodge at 17500 Nez Perce Road in Lewiston. Information about the process, goals, benefits, proposed design features, and timelines for the two bridges will be provided. No formal presentation will be given; however, the project team will be available to answer questions.

A self-guided virtual meeting, with the same information as the in-person experience, will also be available at the project website starting Nov. 8. The feedback survey to provide formal comment during these environmental studies, also available on the project website, will be open through Nov. 22.

“These bridges were built over 50 years ago and are an important part of the regional transportation network,” Project Manager Mark Campbell said. “We want this public meeting to be an opportunity for the community to engage in the early project phases to create safe solutions for the future.”

The environmental studies are the first step in the process of upgrading each bridge and their associated highway intersections to meet future traffic needs as well as current design and safety standards. In some cases, shoulders on the bridges are either too narrow or do not have proper height clearances.

Public feedback throughout the study process will be used alongside evaluations of environmental and cultural impacts and considerations to secure an approved National Environmental Policy Act document.

Future steps include detailed designs and construction. Construction is not currently funded for either bridge.

Join the project team at the public meeting or visit the website at itdprojects.org/clearwatercrossings to view the virtual meeting, complete the survey online, and sign up for updates.

East 1500 North Bridge over I-15 closed until further notice

Damaged girder on East 1500 North Bridge over I-15

The East 1500 North Bridge over Interstate 15 near Shelley will be closed until further notice. A vehicle travelling northbound on I-15 today struck the bridge causing significant damage to a girder. Traffic is currently detoured via South 45th West.

“We’ll have to keep the bridge closed until we can fully inspect the damage,” Operations Engineer Greydon Wright said. “Our bridge crew will come in to do the inspection and decide what work will need to be done to repair it.”

The incident also necessitated the closure of the right lane of northbound I-15 to allow crews to clean debris from the road and ensure the safety of the travelling public.

Travelers are reminded to know before they go and check 511.idaho.gov for traffic impacts.

 

ITD to host open house to solicit feedback on 2026 US-91 widening

intersection of US 91 & Siphon Road

The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) will hold an open house on Thursday, Nov. 2 from 4 to 7 p.m. to present preliminary plans for improvements along U.S. Highway 91 (Yellowstone Highway) between Park Lawn Drive and Siphon Road.

“This is an important project for the Chubbuck area,” Project Manager Kevin Sonico said. “These improvements will address the traffic growth in the area and make it safer for both drivers and pedestrians. We encourage everyone to stop by Chubbuck City Hall any time from 4 to7 p.m. on Thursday to learn more about the project. We’ll be ready to answer questions and collect comments.”

Plans include widening US-91 from three lanes to five lanes from Park Lawn Drive to Siphon Road. The project will also install a new signal and pedestrian facilities at the Siphon Road intersection. Lighting, curb, gutter, sidewalks and a shared-use path along the east side of US-91 will be constructed. In addition, the Chester Drain will be piped.

For those who cannot attend the public meeting on November 2, ITD will post meeting displays the following day on the project website itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/park-lawn-and-siphon for review through Nov. 16. If you have questions about the project, or would like to submit feedback, you can contact the project’s public involvement manager, Andrea Gumm, at agumm@jub.com or 208-870-8751.

Adopt-a-Highway removes 3M lbs. of litter, saves $25M in labor

Adopt A Highway Logo

 
Idaho’s roadsides are indebted to Idaho’s Centennial Celebration in 1990 and the “Idaho is Too Great to Litter” campaign that was rolled out to help keep them clean.

Volunteer groups “adopt” a specific stretch of highway – usually two miles long – and take responsibility for keeping it clean through regular litter patrols throughout the year.

ITD estimates that the program saves about $750,000 annually by using volunteer labor – in 33 years that adds up to about $24.8M. More than 3.3 million lbs. of trash and debris have been removed from Idaho’s roadsides through the program, including the trash pick-up efforts of inmate crews through the Department of Corrections. The savings are redirected to highway construction and needed maintenance to improve Gem State roads and bridges.

There are more than 1,000 active volunteer groups participating in the statewide program. More than half of Idaho’s highways have been adopted. There are still many opportunities for other groups and individuals to get involved. Almost a third of the roadsides on the state’s highway system are available for adoption.

For more information about the program, contact the area coordinator:

North Idaho | Counties: Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai and Shoshone

North Central Idaho | Counties: Clearwater, Idaho, Latah, Lewis and Nez Perce

Southwest Idaho | Counties: Ada, Adams, Boise, Canyon, Elmore, Gem, Owyhee, Payette, Valley and Washington

South-central Idaho | Counties: Blaine, Camas, Cassia, Gooding, Jerome, Lincoln, Minidoka and Twin Falls

Southeast Idaho | Counties: Bannock, Bear Lake, Bingham, Caribou, Franklin, Oneida and Power.

East Idaho | Counties: Bonneville, Butte, Clark, Freemont, Custer, Jefferson, Lemhi, Madison and Teton

Idaho traffic deaths surpass previous year’s total

Highway 44

BOISE- So far this year, more people have been killed in crashes on Idaho roads than in all of 2022. According to data from the Idaho Office of Highway Safety (OHS), 222* people have died in crashes on our roads so far in 2023, surpassing the 215 people killed last year.

“We often think about crashes as isolated incidents, but it adds up to a real crisis on our roads,” said Highway Safety Manager Josephine Middleton. “The safest thing we can do for ourselves and our communities is to drive engaged. That means seatbelt on, free from distractions, and actively scanning the road ahead.”

Seat belts save lives. Seventy-four* of the people killed in crashes this year were not wearing seat belts. In a crash, seat belts increase your odds of survival by nearly 50 percent.

The most frequent type of fatal crash in Idaho is when a single vehicle leaves the roadway and crashes. Drivers involved in these crashes are often speeding, not wearing a seatbelt and/or driving impaired. So far this year, 67* people were killed in single motor vehicle crashes, and 18* were killed in single motorcycle crashes.

“We see this deadly pattern of speed, impairment, and no seatbelt over and over again,” explained OHS Impaired Driving Program Specialist Lisa Losness. “That’s why it’s so important to plan a sober ride home for yourself and call a ride for your friends if they try to drive after drinking.”

Of the deaths on Idaho roads this year*:

  • 152 were in motor vehicles
  • 37 were on motorcycles
  • 25 were pedestrians
  • Four were on bicycles
  • Four were on some other type of vehicle (ATV, UTV, etc.)

The most common contributing factors in this year’s fatal crashes were (in no ranked order):

  • Fail to maintain lane
  • Speeding
  • Alcohol/Drug impairment
  • Fail to yield
  • Inattention
  • Distracted
  • Drove left of the center line
  • Fail to obey a stop sign or signal
  • Overcorrecting
  • Improper overtaking

*All 2023 data is preliminary and subject to change.

ITD avalanche team back in Lowman as they prepare for El Niño season and new challenges

SH-21 Avalanche area southern gate

The Idaho Transportation Department’s (ITD) avalanche team is back in Lowman as they prepare for another season and new challenges. Every winter the team monitors conditions to close roads when necessary for the safety of travelers and maintenance crews.

The four-person team has more than 70 years of combined experience. The team is stationed in Lowman, 20 miles from an avalanche-prone section of State Highway 21 that spans eleven miles from Grandjean to Banner Summit. The team also closely monitors U.S. Highway 12 near the Montana border.

According to avalanche team leader, Bill Nicholson, there are more avalanche paths now than when he started over a decade ago. A wildfire burn scar has changed the landscape.

“When I first got here there were 62 avalanche paths, but on one side of the canyon there was a forest fire. All the trees are now gone. There are not any anchors in there anymore. This area that was not even considered a problem has now become one of our biggest problems. We have around 70 avalanche paths now,” Nicholson said.

SH-21 avalanche-prone sectionAnother difference this winter brings is El Niño. The National Weather Service predicts a milder winter, but Nicholson says less snowpack can sometimes make it even more difficult. He says nothing is the same year to year, so they will use their experience and tools to examine the snowpack like they would any other year. The team relies on specialized weather reports from the National Weather Service, as well as mini weather stations that have been placed in risky areas.

There are only three highways in the United States that fall under the ‘High’ category in the Avalanche Hazard Index: SH-21 in Lowman, State Highway 210 in Utah, and U.S. Highway 550 in Colorado.

Public invited to open house on Rathdrum Prairie transportation study

Traffic congestion along US-95 in Coeur d'Alene

The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) invites the community to attend a public meeting to learn more about a study to evaluate the state highway and local roadway system within the Rathdrum Prairie.

ITD is initiating a Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) study to evaluate the state highway and local roadway system within the Rathdrum Prairie stretching from Interstate 90 north to State Highway 53 and from the Washington state line east to Government Way. This effort is looking at optimizing existing corridors and exploring potential new routes that will mitigate congestion, enhance connectivity, and improve mobility throughout the region.

The public meeting will be held in an open house format, allowing participants to attend anytime between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Public Meeting

November 1

Red Lion Templin’s Hotel on the River

Merganser/Redhead Meeting Room

414 East First Avenue

Post Falls, ID

 

ITD will share information about the PEL process and timeline of events while allowing participants to talk with the team, interact with study area maps, and share ideas about potential improvements.

An online version of this meeting, including all the same content and information, will be available from November 2 to November 16 at https://itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/rathdrum-prairie-pel for those who are unable to attend in person.

Recommendations from the PEL study, and the public and agency input received, may be adopted or incorporated into future National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) studies.