$41M project planned for U.S. 95 north of Hayden

| July 25, 2018 1:00 AM

By BRIAN WALKER

Staff Writer

COEUR d’ALENE — Public input is wanted for a $41 million project on U.S. 95 that will include a new interchange at Highway 53, an overpass at Garwood Road and replacing an aging bridge.

An open house will be held on Aug. 1 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Idaho Transportation Department, 600 W. Prairie Ave.

"The project will improve safety and mobility through the corridor as the area develops and its use increases," said Megan Sausser, ITD spokeswoman. "ITD was able to utilize federal funding to expand the scope of the original project. It is no longer just the replacement of the bridge on Highway 53."

The final design is scheduled to be complete by spring 2019, and construction is scheduled to start that summer. Construction will last about two years.

"U.S. 95 is a primary north-south corridor through a rapidly developing area," ITD Project Manager Joey Sprague said. "ITD has been planning for how to address growth and safety needs along this corridor for more than a decade, and we are excited that funding is now available to construct these improvements."

The project will:

- construct a new interchange at U.S. 95 and Highway 53;

- realign and widen the shoulders of Highway 53 from Ramsey Road to intersect more directly with U.S. 95;

- replace the existing deficient Highway 53 bridge over the Union Pacific Railroad;

- provide an overpass at Garwood Road over U.S. 95 and the UPRR, eliminating direct access to 95 at Garwood;

- extend Government Way as an east-side frontage road from Highway 53 to the intersection of Garwood and Pope roads;

- construct a roundabout at Highway 53 and Government Way; and

- extend pedestrian and bicycle facilities.

Also, eliminating traffic signals on U.S. 95 at Highway 53 and Garwood Road will allow for a speed limit increase on U.S. 95 to 70 mph through that section.

Planning for the project started in 2010 with completion of a study of U.S. 95 between Garwood and Sagle.

Residents can contact the project team by emailing US95Corridor@itd.idaho.gov or calling 208-772-1200. For more information and to comment online until Aug. 15, visit itd.idaho.gov/d1, find the projects tab and select "US-95: ID-53 Interchange."