Seeing orange
Motorists drive by a newly paved shoulder Thursday afternoon along Interstate 90 in Coeur d'Alene. Night work is ongoing and day work is projected to start April 9 on several projects, including the stretch of the interstate from Northwest Boulevard to Sherman Avenue. (LOREN BENOIT/Press)
Part of the Interstate 90 summer construction project includes Centennial Bridge near the Northwest Boulevard exit. (LOREN BENOIT/Press)
By BRIAN WALKER
Staff Writer
Those orange barrels along highways throughout growing Kootenai County are getting to be a spring tradition.
Local agencies are gearing up for another ultra-busy construction season to maintain and improve the roadways.
The project that will impact the most traffic will be the $23.5 million reconstruction of Interstate 90 in Coeur d'Alene from Northwest Boulevard to Sherman Avenue.
Night work is ongoing, and day work is projected to start April 9, according to the Idaho Transportation Department.
"When day work starts, travelers can expect speed reductions, but two lanes will remain open in each direction," said Megan Sausser, ITD spokeswoman.
Work is expected to last through mid-October.
Last year, I-90 was reconstructed between Sherman Avenue and Ninth Street.
Five miles of U.S. 95 south of Coeur d'Alene from Cougar Creek to Mica Creek will be repaved this year.
Construction will begin in May or June and last for two months. Traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction, and speed will be reduced.
"These projects are critical to support the safety, mobility and economic opportunity of the traveling public," Sausser said. "They are on high-volume routes that serve thousands of drivers every day."
ITD's project of replacing the Kingston bridge over I-90 for $7.6 million is also underway, and expected to end in December.
A $10.3 million, two-year project to repair support structures of the Blue Creek Bay bridge over I-90 will start in April and conclude in October.
The biggest project in the Coeur d'Alene-Hayden urban area this year is the ongoing widening of Government Way from Hanley to Prairie avenues to five lanes, with a bike lane and sidewalk.
Farther south, a shared-use path and bike lanes will be constructed along Seltice Way from Northwest Boulevard to Riverstone Drive.
In Hayden, Hayden Avenue from U.S. 95 to Government Way will be widened to four lanes, and a roundabout at Ramsey Road and Honeysuckle Avenue will be constructed.
Post Falls' projects include signals on Seltice Way at Compton and Henry streets and on Spokane Street and Mullan Avenue next to the library. A gated Union Pacific Railroad crossing and other improvements are planned on Grange Avenue. Improvements were made earlier this year on UP's crossing on Spokane Street south of Prairie.
Post Falls Highway District's slate this year includes, but is not limited to, a roundabout at Chase Road and Prairie and widening the shoulders and adding turn lanes to Huetter Road from Mullan Road to Prairie Avenue.
On the east side of Lake Coeur d'Alene, the East Side Highway District is planning to construct a pedestrian underpass along Highway 97 at Camp Easton.
ON THE HORIZON
ITD's improvements in the U.S. 95 corridor in Coeur d'Alene and Hayden will start in 2019, along with Highway 41 at Lancaster Road in Rathdrum.
"There is a lot of traffic and school bus activity at that intersection, so it will be really nice to have turn lanes and that widened out," said Leon Duce, Rathdrum city administrator.
The widening of Highway 41 to four lanes from Post Falls to Rathdrum is slated to start in 2020 and be completed by 2022. The estimated cost is $44.5 million.
In Coeur d'Alene next year, Wilbur Avenue from U.S. 95 to Government Way will be constructed along with an additional eastbound lane on Kathleen Avenue from U.S. 95 to Government Way by Super 1 Foods.
"We see a lot of road-related construction in Kootenai County through 2022, especially in the urban area, so travelers should be prepared to experience construction delays," said Glenn Miles, Kootenai Metropolitan Planning Organization executive director.