The Idaho Transportation Department is beginning the second phase of construction on U.S. Highway 95 between Sagle Road and Lakeshore Drive to increase safety for drivers on the highway and reduce delays for drivers turning onto it. Impacts to traffic will begin during the evening hours of Sunday, August 14.
For approximately two weeks, crews will work at night to repave US-95 from Pit Road in Sagle to the Long Bridge. Motorists can expect the following impacts:
Flaggers will control one lane of alternating traffic on US-95 Sunday through Thursday from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Nighttime lane closures will intermittently affect the Long Bridge
“The highway needs to be resurfaced this fall to avoid severe potholes in the winter,” ITD Project Manager Phil Stout said.
Work during this phase also includes building a U-turn for drivers and installing a signal at Sagle Road.
After the Labor Day weekend, crews will begin building a U-turn as an option for drivers to use when trying to head northbound on US-95 from Lakeshore Drive. The U-turn will be constructed northeast of Bottle Bay Road. Work will take place during the day, and one lane will remain open in each direction.
“Due to long lead times on some key materials, parts of the project will likely not be finished until the spring, including opening up the U-turn for traffic,” Stout said.
Sagle Road improvements are planned to start in mid-October. Drivers on US-95 will not be able to turn east onto Sagle Road, and westbound drivers on Sagle Road will not be able access the highway. Instead, they will be temporarily detoured to Monarch Road for up to one month.
“Our goal is to have the detour in place only as long as necessary, so we have put an incentive in the contract to encourage that work to be completed early,” Stout said.
Work this year will realign the intersection, add turning lanes and prepare for signal installation next spring.
Improvements and anticipated impacts during construction were presented at an open house held in April.
CHUBBUCK – On Wednesday August 10th the Chubbuck Road overpass will be closed over I-15 to facilitate demolition of the overpass. As part of the “Leading Idaho” program’s I-86/I-15 System Interchange rebuild, the Chubbuck Road crossing will be converted from an overpass to an underpass.
Due to the amount of traffic on I-15, construction of the new underpass will occur in stages while the rest of the project progresses. As such, the new underpass is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2024.
This project is partially funded with Transportation Expansion and Congestion Mitigation (TECM) funds as part of Governor Little’s Leading Idaho initiative. The program allows ITD to accelerate project timelines to address rapid growth and build critical infrastructure today that would otherwise take many years to fund and build.
The Chubbuck Road detour will take motorists through the Northgate Interchange.
The new design changes Chubbuck Road into an underpass with additional space for pedestrians and bicycle lanes.
Idaho Governor Brad Little’s “Leading Idaho” funding initiative paved the way recently for badly needed runway improvements at the Malad City Airport.
Leading Idaho funding supplied 100% of project costs, to the tune of $1.6M.
The project began in September 2021 and finished in late July. It was managed by local airport officials and Idaho’s Division of Aeronautics. The airfield at Malad City is one of 48 community airports statewide that are managed by Aero, which is part of the Idaho Transportation Department.
Malad’s City Airport was at the top of the list for funding due to a runway that only scored a 37 (of 100) in the most recent Pavement Condition Index (PCI) – a rating that translated to “Very Poor.” The PCI is the primary rating tool to determine the level of pavement distress and subsequent need for improvement.
The Malad City Airport is just the first of many small community airports across the state that will utilize these Leading Idaho funds to tackle needed repairs.
“A huge thank you to Governor Little for his Leading Idaho Grant and for the State of Idaho Aeronautics for trusting in Oneida County – Malad Airport with the grant funds to rebuild our runway,” said Malad City Airport Office Manager Roxanne Albretsen. “We are beyond grateful and will maintain and keep it in beautiful condition for years to come!”
Airport Board member Mike Hess, in comments made to the local newspaper, TheIdaho Enterprise, said the biggest beneficiaries of the runway improvement would include “Life Flight first and foremost; saving lives as Malad relies on medical transport in many life-threatening cases.”
Without a well-maintained runway, critical patients must be taken by ambulance to the nearest trauma center, which can often make a significant difference in their medical intervention.
Hess continued, “Firefighting would be next. Almost every year the Forest Service will set up a fire-fighting base there.”
This year’s fire season has not been as extreme as last year’s, but the recent Lemhi County and Yosemite fires suggest the season may have quite a few surprises left, especially as high temperatures and winds are in the forecast for much of August.
Hess also mentioned some less-visible benefits. “Each year, Agricultural spray planes base their operations at the airport for the local agricultural community. There were over 2,200 landings here last year. Many of these will take the Courtesy Car into town and buy lottery tickets and a meal. Many people fly in for other business purposes and/or family visits. Many visitors are flying cross-country and stop to purchase gas, which benefits the county.
The Idaho Department of Commerce has indicated that having a community with rail service, freeway access and an airport are three of the most important considerations new businesses look for when selecting a site.”
As part of Governor Little’s“Leading Idaho” initiative, the 2021 Idaho Legislature dedicated $126 million of one-time funds from Idaho’s budget surplus to transportation projects statewide. The funds were split 60/40 between ITD and local jurisdictions. Construction on this project is paid for with ITD’s portion of the funds that will accelerate projects to replace bridges, restore pavements, and improve mobility in communities across Idaho.
Today services at the Huetter Rest Area were restored through a temporary cleaning contract. The department will continue to pursue a long-term cleaning contract. The status of rest areas can always be checked at 511.idaho.gov.
August 2, 2022 update
Limited services available at the I-90 Huetter Rest Area until further notice
Limited services will be available until further notice at the Huetter Rest Area on I-90 between Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene.
At the eastbound rest area commercial vehicles may stop at the Port of Entry and travelers with watercraft like kayaks and boats must stop for inspection by the Idaho State Department of Agriculture to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.
No services are available at the westbound rest area.
“Back in late June, we had to terminate our contract with the cleaning company,” Operations Engineer Ryan Hawkins said. “The restroom and grounds were not being maintained per the standards of the contract and were posing a health risk.”
The Idaho Transportation Department has hired another contractor to perform a deep clean of the facilities and will solicit a new contractor for continued, ongoing maintenance.
“In the past, we have not had many companies interested in providing this service, so we are not sure when we will be able to fully restore operations,” Hawkins said. “In the meantime, we encourage travelers to stop in Post Falls or Coeur d’Alene.”
Rest area closures and traffic impacts across the state may be found by visiting 511.idaho.gov.
POST FALLS – The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is beginning work to replace and upgrade the interchange at Interstate 90 and State Highway 41 in Post Falls, with impacts to traffic beginning Monday, August 1.
Construction will be underway until the summer of 2025. Over the next four seasons work will generally shift from I-90 to SH-41 and then to Seltice Way. To learn about the full range of improvements and how to use the future interchange, watch this video.
“The beginning of this project is a significant milestone for ITD and the surrounding area,” said Shannon Stein, ITD project manager. “Once finished, the reconstructed interchange will improve safety, increase capacity, provide better connectivity to SH-41 and position I-90 for future expansion.”
In 2022, crews will work along I-90, begin reconstructing ramps and begin building the new eastbound bridges. Motorists can expect the following impacts:
Two 12-foot lanes of I-90 will be open during the day. Shoulders will be reduced to 2 feet.
Speed limits will be lowered to 55 mph on I-90 and 25 mph on SH-41 and Seltice Way.
Intermittent lane restrictions will occur on I-90 at night (8 p.m. to 5 a.m.). During special events, night work will begin at 10 p.m. Initial efforts include primarily night work.
Live traffic impacts will be available for individuals to check at 511.idaho.gov.
Construction may be noisy at times and require nighttime lighting or additional closures or delays on roads in the project area.
“It will be important to plan extra time when traveling around the interchange. ITD will communicate regularly throughout construction with those who live, work and commute in this area,” Stein said.
The best way to stay informed is to sign up for email updates by visiting itdprojects.org/i90sh41ic or by calling 866-774-4454.
The $78 million interchange reconstruction is beginning one year earlier than expected, thanks in part to Transportation Expansion and Congestion Mitigation (TECM) funds through Governor Little’s “Leading Idaho” initiative. This deliberate investment of TECM funds allows ITD to accelerate project timelines to address rapid growth and construct critical infrastructure sooner in Post Falls.
Construction of the new Garwood Bridge is nearing completion, with a tentative date for the bridge to open to traffic next Friday, July 29. The overpass allows for seamless north-south travel on US-95 and a safer crossing over the railroad. Completion of the bridge represents the conclusion of a multi-year project that began in summer of 2019 to improve the safety and efficiency of the US-95 corridor.
The project began with construction of a new single-point urban interchange at the junction of US-95 and ID-53. The interchange increased efficiency and safety of traffic flow by directing traffic through a single centralized signal. This interchange opened in November 2020 and is the first of its kind in North Idaho.
As a result of the two new structures, the project was able to remove two at-grade signals along US-95, so the last signal heading north from Coeur d’Alene is now at Lancaster Road.
A temporary signal that was installed at the intersection of ID-53 and Ramsey Road to accommodate detour traffic and will be replaced by a permanent signal through a separate project next year.
ITD would like to thank drivers for their patience during construction and reminds everyone to check https://511.idaho.gov for traffic impacts from other ongoing projects before traveling.
This July the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) begins the next phase of construction on the State Highway 16 corridor through the central Treasure Valley. The new extension will run north to south between U.S. Highway 20/26 and Interstate 84, west of McDermott Road along the border of Ada and Canyon counties. It will tie into the existing SH-16 route, which continues north to Emmett.
Monday, July 18, initial work starts on the southern end of the corridor where crews will set barriers and shift traffic to create room to build ramps and the bridge foundation for what will become an interchange connecting I-84 to the SH-16 extension. Drivers can expect overnight lane closures on I-84 between the Black Cat Road and Robinson Road overpasses from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
Work begins on the northern end, at the intersection of SH-16 and US-20/26, Monday, August 1. Traffic will be limited to one lane in each direction on US-20/26 as crews remove the center median and widen the intersection. Lane restrictions on US-20/26 will be in place through next year.
“We are excited to get underway with the next step of construction,” said ITD Project Manager Merrill Sharp. “Ultimately, this highway will address growth and improve mobility for thousands of motorists in the central Treasure Valley.”
ITD is building SH-16 in phases. The first phase was completed in 2014 between US-20/26 and SH-44. The second phase will be under construction from 2022 to 2024. A third and final phase will be constructed in future years as funding becomes available.
Phase 2 includes constructing:
A new I-84 interchange to access the central Treasure Valley north of I-84.
Approximately 4.5 miles of highway between US-20/26 and I-84.
Overpasses crossing Cherry Lane and McMillan Road.
Bridges over irrigation canals and the railroad.
Signalized intersections at US-20/26, Franklin Road, and Ustick Road.
Reconstruction of the current signalized intersection at US-20/26.
Early construction activities will also include increased truck traffic in the area as crews haul materials and utility companies relocate infrastructure. Construction may require additional closures or delays on roads in the project area and nighttime work. “It will be important to plan ahead when traveling around the corridor. ITD will communicate regularly throughout construction with those who live, work, and commute in this area,” Sharp said.
Stay informed by signing up for email and text alerts regarding project updates. Text HIGHWAY16 to 1-866-483-8422 or visit itdprojects.org/sh16corridor. Maps and other details can also be found on the project website.
Phase 2 construction is funded through Governor Brad Little’s Leading Idaho initiative. Leading Idaho allows ITD to take a deliberate approach to invest in projects within the Transportation Expansion and Congestion Mitigation (TECM) corridors that will enhance safety, improve mobility, further strengthen Idaho’s economy and positively impact communities across the state for years to come.
Work is expected to begin Monday (July 25) on a highway construction project in Rupert. The primarily focus of this project is to restore the condition of State Highway 24 and State Highway 25 in the area.
“These highways have long served as major connections between Interstate 84 and the cities of Paul, Rupert, Acequia, and Minidoka,” said ITD Project Manager Brock Dillé. “Upcoming work will improve both the safety and driving experience for motorists.”
During construction, the intersection at Oneida Street and East 8th Street will be reconfigured to provide better traffic flow. Stormwater repairs and Americans with Disabilities Act upgrades will also occur on pedestrian ramps.
“In addition to work on the roadway, Eastern Idaho Railroad will also make improvements to its system in this area,” Dillé stated.
While work is underway, traffic will be reduced to a single lane in each direction. Access points for the highway and the intersection at Oneida/East 8th streets will be temporarily closed for a portion of the project.
“We will not permanently remove any access points and will work to minimize the duration of any closures that occur,” said Dillé. “Motorists should plan for extra time when commuting through the area and be on the lookout for signs and flaggers when traveling through the work zone.”
Idaho Materials and Construction is the primary contractor on this project that is expected to be complete early fall.
As part of Governor Brad Little’s “Leading Idaho” initiative, the 2021 Idaho Legislature dedicated $126 million of one-time funds from Idaho’s budget surplus to transportation projects statewide. The funds were split 60/40 between ITD and local jurisdictions. Construction on this project is paid for with ITD’s portion of the funds that will accelerate projects to replace bridges, restore pavements, and improve mobility in communities across Idaho.
Last month Girl Scout Troop 1806 partnered with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) to install homemade birdhouses near the US-95 McArthur Lake project south of Naples.
Project Manager Carrie Ann Hewitt has consulted IDFG biologists through the design of the project, which includes realigning one mile of the highway near the lake to make the existing curves safer for drivers and to elevate the highway where it dips down to the water. Elevating US-95 will also allow wildlife to pass underneath to access the IDFG McArthur Lake Wildlife Management Area.
The project will be constructed in 2023 and 2024, with tree thinning work this year to prepare for the realignment. Hewitt is a co-leader for the troop, which had been researching the state bird—the mountain bluebird—and the troop reached out to IDFG to see about improving habitat.
“Mountain bluebird populations are struggling,” Hewitt said. “The girls found that cowbirds actually swap out eggs with the bluebirds, and the bluebirds unknowingly hatch the wrong offspring.”
The troop built birdhouses with entrances too small for the cowbirds to prevent that from happening, and IDFG suggested that they install them near McArthur Lake due to the recent thinning, along with another site near Boundary Creek.
Trop 1806 holds their homemade birdhouses for bluebirds
Hewitt’s daughter Allison, 14, and fellow troop members camped in the area and with help from IDFG installed 18 birdhouses. This project will earn them their Silver Awards, which is one step away from the Gold Award, comparable to the Eagle Award for Scouts BSA.
POCATELLO – Preliminary work on the Idaho Transportation Department’s project to rebuild the I-86/I-15 System Interchange is beginning this week. Originally built sixty years ago, the design needs to be updated to handle greater traffic volumes and to replace aging bridges that are reaching the end of their life. Joint venture contractors Sundt-Cannon is expected to begin moving equipment into the project area before the end of the week.
The scale of the endeavor is truly historic and took years to bring to fruition. When completed, approximately 900,000 cubic yards of excavation will be completed. In addition, about 225,000 tons of base material will be brought in; 111,000 tons of asphalt will be placed; and over 6,500 cubic yards of concreate will be poured. 70,000 square feet of retaining walls will also be built throughout the project area. Finally, ITD will build eight new bridges. Four of those will use precast concrete girders and four will have steel girders. In all, nearly 5,000,000 pounds of steel will be used in the bridges. Crews will work year-round for approximately three years to complete the project.
The two most significant changes motorists will see during construction are a detour for traffic travelling from I-15 northbound to I-86 westbound and the closure of the Chubbuck Road overpass.
In early August, northbound traffic from I-15 exiting west toward Chubbuck will be detoured through the Northgate Interchange and back onto I-15 South to then proceed to I-86 West. To maintain traffic for the anticipated 2-year construction of the project, the ramp will need to be lowered prior to beginning bridge construction. This necessitates the ramp closure and detour through the Northgate Interchange. This work should be completed by early September.
The Chubbuck Road overpass will be closed around August 1st, prior to the beginning of the school year, and will remain closed during the duration of the project. Construction will remove the existing bridge, excavate new embankments, and create bridges for I-15 to pass over Chubbuck Road. The final Chubbuck Road design will be easier and safer to navigate for motorists, bicyclist, and pedestrians. During construction motorists will be detoured through the Northgate interchange.
During the first phase of construction traffic from northbound I-15 intending to travel west will be detoured through the Northgate interchange.
While demolition of the Chubbuck Road overpass will not begin immediately, an important concern for the school district and other interested parties was altering bus routes and student driving routes after the beginning of the school year. This could cause unnecessary delays and confusion for buses, faculty, parents, and students.
“The school district had some real concerns about making a change during the school year and we are doing what we can to accommodate them for the safety of the students and smooth operation of the schools,” said project co-manager Zak Johnson.
The $112 million project to rebuild the system interchange is a massive undertaking that requires extensive coordination with many different parties. ITD has been in close contact with city leaders, ISP, the Bannock County Sheriff’s office, emergency response, schools, regional transit, and others to ensure the safety of Idaho citizens and motorists passing through Southeast Idaho.
An important question some in the community express is, why now?
“The aging bridges will continue to get closer and closer to the end of their design lifespan,” said project co-manager Greg Roberts, “They would still be functional, but weight limits would start to have to be imposed on truck traffic. That would negatively impact Pocatello’s economic future.”
That is an important concern for Idaho businesses. Large loads, called “mega-loads”, travel through the Gate City to Montana and west to other regions of Southern Idaho. Local manufacturing companies need to be able to move their products to their customers quickly and safely.
However, it is not just the age of the 1960’s bridges that is a concern. When the System Interchange was built there was almost no development on the east side of I-15. Today the Highland area has subdivisions, a high school, the fairgrounds, and the Wellness Complex. In addition, development at Northgate has begun and will result in even more traffic.
“We can only expect traffic volume to increase and with it congestion,” said Roberts. “That will cause the ‘weave’ between the Pocatello Creek onramp and the Chubbuck exit to get worse. Traffic entering, I-15 intending to head toward Chubbuck already has difficulty during peak times crossing all the way to the left to head west on I-86.”
The issue for drivers now is finding a gap to slip into so they can head west toward Chubbuck.
“That will only get worse if we do nothing,” added Johnson, “Gaps between cars will become smaller and smaller making it more difficult to safely merge. Drivers will be forced to make more aggressive lane changes to head to Chubbuck. That kind of situation increases collisions. We don’t want to wait until things become dangerous and people get hurt.”
Safety is a primary concern for project managers and the contractors as motorists prepare to drive through the work site. “These are our neighbors and family working out there,” said Roberts. “We do everything we can to make the worksite safe, but it’s really important that drivers follow posted speed limits, watch for lane changes and signs, and give other motorists space on the road.”
The Chubbuck Road detour will take motorists through the Northgate Interchange.
Both Roberts and Johnson have seen severe worksite accidents caused by inattentive drivers. In one instance a motorist followed a work truck directly into the work site. Unfortunately, deaths do occur and it is often the result of a motorist that do not take care in a work zone.
“It’s something that never leaves you,” said Johnson as he reflected on a fatality on a previous project. “We do everything we can to keep people safe, but when it happens it’s hard not to take it personally. We just ask everyone to please keep themselves, their families, and their neighbors safe while this project is being completed.”
Once completed, the new System Interchange will be safer and ready to carry the increased traffic volumes for the fastest growing state in America.
This project is partially funded with Transportation Expansion and Congestion Mitigation (TECM) funds as part of Governor Little’s Leading Idaho initiative. The program allows ITD to accelerate project timelines to address rapid growth and build critical infrastructure today that would otherwise take many years to fund and build.
This video describes how the new interchange will work and improve mobility and safety for the public – https://youtu.be/KRdVBAyXweA
The new design changes Chubbuck Road into an underpass with additional space for pedestrians and bicycle lanes.Vehicles travelling northbound from Pocatello Creek Road will merge with I-86 traffic on a new ramp. Both lanes will then meet with I-15 northbound traffic near Chubbuck Road.
When completed, westbound traffic from Pocatello Creek Road will pass under I-15 to merge with I-86.
