HAUSER – The Idaho Transportation Department will close Pleasant View Road between State Highway 53 and Prairie Avenue as early as the first week of March. Drivers will be able to use either Prairie Avenue or McGuire Road to access SH-53. This closure is part of the SH-53, Pleasant View Road Interchange construction that started last fall. The project will enhance safety along the highly traveled SH-53 corridor by ultimately eliminating three railroad/vehicle crossings, streamlining access to SH-53, and increasing capacity on SH-53 and Pleasant View Road.
IMMEDIATE IMPACTS
In preparation for the Pleasant View Road closure, barricades will be installed the week of February 17 at the Prairie Avenue and Beck Road intersection to prevent left-turn movements to and from both streets.
- Northbound drivers on Beck Road will need to turn right on Prairie Avenue and do a full rotation of the roundabout to access SH-53 from westbound Prairie Avenue.
- Westbound drivers on Prairie Avenue will need to find an alternative route altogether to access southbound Beck Road.
Additionally, ITD is working closely with BNSF Railway to install a temporary signal on SH-53 at Prairie Avenue, which is anticipated to be active sometime in early summer. These restrictions will be in place until the Pleasant View Road Interchange is completed in summer of 2026.
“ITD understands that construction of this new interchange and associated improvements will significantly impact travel patterns for local and regional drivers,” said Project Manager James Dorman. “Safety is a top priority, and the measures taken during construction are done so with this objective in mind. We appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding as we work to increase safety and mobility for people using this corridor.”
The first features to be constructed include the footings for the Pleasant View bridge over the railroad tracks and the new alignment of SH-53 between Hauser Lake and Hollister Hills Roads north of the existing highway. One lane of traffic in each direction will predominantly be maintained on SH-53, and work will typically take place weekdays during daylight hours.
Construction of this project is being made possible now by a U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration grant that was awarded to ITD in mid-2023. The grant program was created to improve safety at rail crossings in communities across the country to save lives, time, and resources for American families. Additional financial contributions were made by ITD’s partnering organizations: BNSF Railway and the Post Falls Highway District. The estimated construction cost of this project is $30 million.
People are encouraged to stay informed by visiting the project website and subscribing to emails at itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/sh53corridor. For statewide traffic information, and up to the minute information regarding impacts or delays along the SH-53 corridor, visit 511.idaho.gov, dial 511 by phone, or download the app.