Summer road construction heats up

ITD updates motorists on next week's work

By BEN DEINES

For the Press

COEUR d'ALENE — It’s been a long, tough winter in North Idaho.

Inevitably, it will be followed by another long, tough season: road construction.

The Idaho Transportation Department is continuing several road construction projects in the Coeur d’Alene area beginning Tuesday after the Memorial Day Weekend.

The road construction projects, including Interstate 90 and U.S. 95, total about $40 million and will take place throughout the summer and stretch into the fall.

One project will occur on I-90 from Sherman Avenue to Northwest Boulevard, focusing on the area between Sherman and 15th to include guard-rail relocation, installation and minor paving. Overpass clearances will also be heightened. Minor daytime work is anticipated.

Reconstruction of the road will continue through late fall.

At the intersection of U.S. 95 and Ironwood Drive, work will include demolition and removal. The project will resurface U.S. 95, improve the intersections of Ironwood and Emma and add turn lanes and signalization. Work will only be during daylight hours Tuesday through Friday.

On Seltice Way there will be work on the grading and excavations of the eastbound side and the new roundabouts a Grand Mill Drive and Atlas Road. Electrical work for the new street illumination is also expected to begin and is expected to be completed mid-summer.

On U.S. 95 from Cougar Creek to I-90, work will include milling and paving of the northbound lanes from Blackwell Slough to Cougar Creek. Traffic will be reduced to one lane in either direction.

Work will occur from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., Tuesday through Friday.

Additionally, the road from Hanley to Prairie avenues on Government Way will be reconstructed to include two lanes in each direction, a center turn lane, two buffered bike lanes and sidewalks. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in either direction. Construction is expected to start in mid-June and run through September.

Whenever possible, work will be done at night and during the weekends, but there will still be some daytime impacts such as lane closures or shifts, reduced speeds and delays.

The projects are intended to result in more efficient traffic flow, better visibility and improved safety.