Highway 41 project to impact traffic

RATHDRUM — If weather permits, crews will begin paving on a 10.2-mile stretch of Highway 41 north of Rathdrum on Wednesday, significantly impacting traffic in that area.

This work will be coupled with roadway safety improvements, including adding three new turn bays at select intersections and sign and lighting improvements encompassing 32 miles of the roadway in the area.

This is the continuation of a $4.5 million project that began May 2 using new revenue from general fund surplus.

The work is on Highway 41 from Rathdrum north to the junction with Highway 54 and from the junction with Highway 53 north to the U.S. 2 junction at Spirit Lake heading toward Oldtown.

The work is expected to finish by early October.

A pilot car will lead traffic through the construction zones. Tree removal in the highway right of way to improve line of sight and driver visibility will begin Tuesday and last about two weeks. POE Asphalt Inc., of Clarkston, Wash., is the contractor.

The Idaho Transportation Board selected road and bridge projects across Idaho in December 2015 for maintenance and repair work.

The project is 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.