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Work is expected to restart next Friday (July 15) on a highway rehabilitation project in Lincoln County. Approximately six miles of U.S. Highway 93/U.S. Highway 26 from Marley Road to Jim Byrne Slough (milepost 177.5-182.8) will undergo construction to improve both the safety and driving experience for motorists in the area.

“Earlier this year, before water was flowing in the irrigation system, crews replaced irrigation structures along the roadway,” said ITD Project Manager Tom Logan. “Upcoming work will address the surface of the roadway.”

Construction this month will start with the removal of rock knobs along the highway in three areas south of Richfield.

“Removal of rock will even out the hilly profile of the roadway,” Logan explained. “This will increase sight distance for motorists and improve safety.”

While this earthwork occurs, traffic will be reduced to a single lane. Temporary traffic signals will be in place and motorists should anticipate 4-5 minute delays when traveling through the area.

The last phase of construction will involve milling and repaving the existing surface of the highway. During that portion of work, pilot cars and flaggers will be present to direct motorists during working hours – Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Western Construction is the primary contractor on this project that is expected to be complete late summer.

Two resurfacing projects will begin this July on several miles of Interstate 90 near Fourth of July and Lookout passes, with the first set to start Monday.

Paving between Wallace and Mullan will start next week and is scheduled to take until September, with traffic reduced to one lane in each direction. Crews will add an 85-foot-long wall and fencing at milepost 67 to protect drivers from potential rockfall.

These improvements were added to the project after boulders fell down a steep chute onto the freeway during two separate events in June and November of 2020. The project was originally scheduled to be constructed in 2024 but was advanced to this summer with funds from Governor Brad Little’s “Leading Idaho” investment, which includes a one-time transfer from the state’s budget surplus of $126 million dedicated in 2021 by the Idaho Legislature.

The bottom of Fourth of July Pass will also undergo construction as part of a different project starting in late July. Work this year will focus on improving the driving surface four miles east of the pass, and concrete barrier will be installed in the median next spring to prevent head-on crashes. While work is underway, one lane in each direction will be closed.

For both work zones, all traffic will eventually be crossed over to run on one set of lanes and will be divided by cones rather than a median.

Other work zones on I-90 include bridge replacements in Kellogg and a range of smaller projects to address bridges, concrete barrier and ramps. Drivers should plan extra time for commuting and check 511.idaho.gov for traffic conditions and restrictions on up to seven planned work zones east of CDA this summer.

ITD is asking for input on the just-released draft Idaho Transportation Investment Program (ITIP). The 2023-2029 ITIP is a seven-year master plan of the state’s transportation improvement projects. Everyone is encouraged to participate starting in July.

Projects can range from large-scale interstate improvements to smaller projects like the installation of a new guardrail. In all, the draft ITIP includes projects in all 44 counties and all modes of transportation. Projects were selected based on technical data, as well as input from local officials and residents.

A complete breakdown of the draft plan can be found at itd.idaho.gov/funding.

Projects newly funded in North Central Idaho with this update include:

• Resurfacing U.S. Highway 12 from Greer to Kamiah in 2024.
• Extending the northbound passing lane on U.S. Highway 95 over Crooks Hill north of Viola in 2029.
• Modifying curves and adding guardrail to US-95 from Rapid River to Riggins in 2029.

Construction originally planned for this summer on US-12 between Orofino and Greer has been combined with a 2023 project to repave State Highway 11 from the top of Greer Grade to Weippe. Both projects will be jointly advertised this fall, with some construction possible before winter.

Comments will be taken from July 1-31 and can be e-mailed to ITDcommunication@itd.idaho.gov or mailed to:

ITIP – Comments
Attn: Office of Communication
P.O. Box 7129
Boise, ID  83707

Paper copies of the ITIP will be provided upon request by contacting the Idaho Transportation Department (208) 334-8119.

All comments will be reviewed, incorporated into the ITIP where appropriate, and responses will be sent in September once the comment period has ended.

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.

ITD is asking for input on the just-released draft Idaho Transportation Investment Program (ITIP). The 2023-2029 ITIP is a seven-year master plan of the state’s transportation improvement projects. Everyone is encouraged to participate starting in July.

Projects can range from large-scale interstate improvements to smaller projects like the installation of a new guardrail. In all, the draft ITIP includes projects in all 44 counties and all modes of transportation. Projects were selected based on technical data, as well as input from local officials and residents.

A complete breakdown of the draft plan can be found at itd.idaho.gov/funding.

Projects newly funded in North Idaho with this update include:

• Resurfacing U.S. Highway 95 from Bonners Ferry to Three Mile Junction in 2029.
• Resurfacing State Highway 53 from the state line to Hauser Lake Road in 2024 to keep conditions acceptable until more robust repairs and expansion in 2027.

Other changes include:

• Resurfacing of I-90 between Osburn and Wallace was advanced four years for construction in 2023. Download a photo.
• Widening of U.S. Highway 2 underneath a railroad overpass in Sandpoint was moved up to 2023 from 2026.
• The project to expand U.S. Highway 95 south of Coeur d’Alene and modify access at the Lincoln Way/Walnut Avenue intersection was rescheduled for construction in 2024 rather than 2026.
• Resurfacing State Highway 54 from State Highway 41 to U.S. Highway 95 is now funded for 2024 instead of 2027.

Comments will be taken from July 1-31 and can be e-mailed to ITDcommunication@itd.idaho.gov or mailed to:

ITIP – Comments
Attn: Office of Communication
P.O. Box 7129
Boise, ID  83707

Paper copies of the ITIP will be provided upon request by contacting the Idaho Transportation Department (208) 334-8119.

All comments will be reviewed, incorporated into the ITIP where appropriate, and responses will be sent in September once the comment period has ended.

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.

Work will begin on State Highway 200 between Pack River and Trestle Creek after the Fourth of July holiday. Crews will replace guardrail and concrete barrier near the Pack River Bridge and apply a chipseal.

The project is expected to take six weeks to complete. Guardrail replacement may require a lane closure, and temporary signals will be used to control traffic at the bridge in late July. Traffic will be reduced to one lane when crews are on site applying the chipseal.

Chipsealing is a cost-effective way to extend the life of pavement. The process involves spraying a sticky slurry on the pavement, placing rock chips on it and compressing them into place. This creates a seal that protects the pavement from water intrusion and weathering.

Drivers should be prepared for delays up to 15 minutes and check 511.idaho.gov for impacts from this project and others.

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. 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.

Operations within the ongoing work zone on U.S. Highway 95 in Bonners Ferry will shift shortly after the Fourth of July holiday as crews begin paving the southbound lane.

All work this season will focus on building a three-lane section featuring wider shoulders and sidewalks on both sides between Eisenhower Street and Alderson Lane. Since construction began in April, crews have been able to place base, curb, gutter, and sidewalks for the southbound lane for the expanded highway, begin work on the proposed stormwater pond, and start light installation.

During one week of paving, traffic is expected to continue to have a lane in each direction but will be periodically stopped to allow trucks to enter and exit the work zone.

Once paving in that direction is complete, crews will shift to the middle of the highway and work at night. Drivers can expect the highway to be reduced to one lane at night for about one month. Two lanes will be open during the day when crews are not working. Wide loads more than 11 feet wide will not be allowed during the day; between 9 p.m. and 4 a.m. loads up to 13 feet wide will be allowed. Loads more than 13 feet wide will need to find an alternate route during this stage.

In mid-August, crews plan to resume daytime work to focus on the northbound lane. This phase of the two-year project is expected to end in October.

The city of Bonners Ferry has elected to landscape sections between the curb and the sidewalks with decorative rock, rather than grass as used in previous phases, due to the unforeseen extremely high maintenance costs. Property owners or individuals interested in “adopting” the section in front of their property and agreeing to maintain the grassy area, if constructed, should contact the city at (208) 267-3105 by the end of July. Sections that have been adopted for maintenance may be landscaped with grass rather than rock if a maintenance agreement can be signed.

Construction from 2018 to 2020 built similar improvements from the Kootenai River Bridge to Alderson Lane. Learn more about this project at itdprojects.org/us95bonnersferry.

The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is making improvements to State Highway 45 between the State Highway 78 junction in Walters Ferry and Deer Flat Road in Nampa. Construction on the 13-mile stretch of road will begin Monday, June 27. All work is expected to be complete by early September.

Construction plans include replacing the bridge deck at Mora Canal, resurfacing the pavement between the SH-78 junction in Walters Ferry and Deer Flat Road in Nampa, and widening the turning radius on SH-45 at Missouri Avenue and at Patterson Avenue. This project will extend the life of SH-45.

Motorists should expect the following traffic impacts this summer:

• Work will take place during the day and night.
• One lane of SH-45 will be open with flaggers directing traffic. Please plan for delays up to 15 minutes.
• The speed limit will be reduced.
• Drivers can expect an uneven road surface and bumps when entering SH-45.
• Access to and from homes and businesses may be closed for up to one hour. ITD will notify those affected prior to closures.

Work will temporarily pause over the Independence Day holiday weekend. For more information about the project visit itdprojects.org/45repaving.

ITD and the Idaho State Police advise motorists to slow down and pay attention when driving in work zones, where increased speeding fines and other penalties apply. Motorists are encouraged to plan ahead and visit 511.idaho.gov for information on the state highway or interstate system.