The road more traveled
WORLEY - The icing on the cake of improving U.S. 95 in the Worley area has finally arrived.
The Idaho Transportation Department on Friday learned it will receive a $7.4 million federal grant to upgrade a 2.75-mile stretch through Worley.
Don Davis, ITD senior planner, said the goal is to construct the project next year.
It will include single lanes in each direction, a turn lane, bicycle lanes on both sides, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, drainage and street lighting.
"We've applied five times for funding and have been unsuccessful until this round," Davis said. "This will put the final touch on a much larger project. It's not a stand-alone project by any stretch."
The project will complete a 15-year, $190 million realignment and reconstruction effort to upgrade 28 miles of U.S. 95 from narrow and winding with no shoulders to a highway that meets current design and safety standards.
The total project cost is $9.25 million so ITD will need to identify the 20 percent in matching funds, Davis said. The project will also need to be re-added to the state and Kootenai Metropolitan Planning Organization transportation improvement programs.
"Our intent is to get the project back on those programs, find match money and advertise it for next construction season," Davis said.
Davis said the project will address highway issues in Worley related to a large volume of heavy trucks passing through, pedestrian safety, stormwater runoff and accommodating the hourly Citylink public transit service.
"We've seen more truck traffic stay in Idaho (as opposed to the Washington side of the border) from Coeur d'Alene to Lewiston, so this has helped commercial and economic opportunities as well," Davis said.
During the project, the city of Worley will make sewer improvements in the corridor.
The Coeur d'Alene Tribe submitted letters of support for the project.
"This stretch of highway has long been in dire need of some significant work," said Chief Allan, chairman of the Tribe. "We hope the planned improvements will protect our community. We are hopeful that the new infrastructure, increased safety and aesthetic improvements made possible with this funding will also help contribute to the economy of Worley and the Coeur d'Alene Reservation."
The project was one of 72 in 46 states awarded Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) funding by the U.S. Department of Transportation for 2014. A total of $600 million was awarded nationwide. The grants will support more than $2 billion in projects.
Since 2009 the TIGER program has provided nearly $4.1 billion to 342 projects in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, including 117 projects to support rural and tribal communities.