Highway work to begin Monday
COEUR d’ALENE — Highway construction will begin next week in several locations throughout the region.
The first of several projects in North Idaho using new revenue from General Fund surplus is set to begin Monday, May 2. The work is on a 32-mile stretch of Idaho 41, from Rathdrum north to its junction with Idaho 54, and from its junction with Idaho 53 north to the U.S. 2 junction at Spirit Lake heading toward Oldtown. The work is expected to finish by early October.
The work includes critical safety improvements, funded by $4.5 million in General Fund surplus. Commerce and mobility will also be served through these projects.
During the work, crews will resurface the road, build three new turnbays and add safety features such as additional lighting, and remove trees near the highway right of way.
Below are the details of each section of the work, starting with the first stretch of work:
Idaho 41, Junction with Idaho 53 north to U.S. 2 Junction, Spirit Lake
Improves corridor safety by reducing the number and severity of collisions on Idaho 41 between its junction with Idaho 53 and the U.S. 2 junction, from milepost 7.9-39. This project will specifically address three intersections that have high crash ratings and turning traffic volumes — the intersections of Idaho 41 and Old Priest River Road, Idaho 41 and Spirit Lake Cutoff Road, and Idaho 41 and Seasons Road. All three intersections will have newly designed traffic turn lanes and will undergo several safety measures to help eliminate collision risks. Idaho 41 closely parallels the Idaho-Washington border as it travels north of Spirit Lake, home to multiple lakes and many outdoor recreational opportunities. The project also includes new signs and additional illumination. The primary partners/stakeholders are commerce, motorists, Kootenai County, Bonner County, the city of Spirit Lake, the city of Rathdrum and the greater Hayden Lake area.
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Idaho 41, Rathdrum north to Idaho 54 Junction
Restores 10.2 miles (milepost 7.9 – 18.1) of Idaho 41 near Rathdrum with the Cement Recycled Asphalt Base Stabilization pavement treatment and a sealcoat. Idaho 41 is a parallel route for U.S. 95. Many trucks from Canada use this highway to bypass the city of Coeur d’Alene on their way to Interstate 90. Improving the pavement condition on this route will have a positive impact on the economy for trucks, tourists, and commuters traveling to Spokane and Coeur d’Alene. The primary partners/stakeholders are the trucking industry, the city of Post Falls, the city of Rathdrum, Kootenai County, and the Kootenai Metropolitan Planning Organization.
The first phase of work will involve only minimal traffic interference, but the second phase, starting approximately May 24, will have significant impact on the traveling public. A pilot car will guide traffic through the construction zone.
Crews plan to work 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday during the first phase of construction. The schedule for the second phase will be to do the CRABS resurfacing during the day and pave at night.
Poe Asphalt Paving Inc., of Clarkston, Wash., is the contractor.
The Idaho Transportation Board selected 17 road and bridge projects across Idaho in December 2015 for maintenance and repair work. The projects are all funded by the $54.1 million in general fund surplus provided by the Idaho Legislature last year. Selections came from a pool of projects based on analysis of each project’s return on investment in the areas of safety, mobility, economic opportunity, bridge condition, and right-of-way purchases.
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Work to start on highways 3 and 5 in St. Maries
Work on the intersections that make up the junction of Idaho 5 and Idaho 3 in St. Maries — approximately one-tenth of a mile apart — is also expected to begin Monday and finish in late July. The project will include utility work, intersection work, and pedestrian-access improvements.
This will include improving turning at the intersections, reconstructing the pavement surface, and reconstructing sidewalks and approaches in this area. Water, sewer, and stormwater utility lines will also be upgraded during construction.
Travel will be open to one-lane, two-way traffic for the majority of the work, but will occasionally be reduced to one lane total.
Crews will work from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays for the duration of the project. There are no official detours for this project. Because of its location, small delays should be expected.
Accelerated Construction & Excavating, of Plummer, is the contractor on this $1.16 million job.