Bosanko project about to get the green light

COEUR d’ALENE — A plan to remove the traffic lights at Bosanko Avenue and U.S. 95 to assist traffic flow will likely be realized this month.

The $31,000 project is part of a larger $9.3 million plan to refurbish U.S. 95 that includes removing traffic lights at Bosanko and Canfield avenues, adding a light at Miles Avenue, putting in turn lanes on U.S. 95 and cross streets, revamping sidewalks and a pedestrian trail that parallels the highway through Coeur d’Alene.

Idaho Transportation Department spokeswoman Megan Sausser said work to remove the Bosanko light is scheduled Aug. 19 and would likely take several weeks.

Crews are getting ready to install a median that would allow southbound highway traffic to turn left onto Bosanko but will prevent westbound traffic from turning south onto the highway.

A similar feature already exists at Lacey Avenue.

“The signal at Bosanko is scheduled to be shut off on Aug. 19 as crews work on installing the curbed median,” Sausser said. “It may take a few weeks for the signal to be physically removed (because) the contractor has other jobs in the area.”

The traffic lights are being removed to maintain a half-mile interval between lights on the highway that sees an average of 35,000 motorists daily, according to the Transportation Department.

When the plan to remove the Bosanko light was announced last year, it caused a stir among business owners on the east side of the highway. They argued the light was a valuable resource because it allowed easier access to the island of commercial and residential properties between U.S. 95 and Government Way.

“It’s going to cause a big problem,” said Ken Young, who uses a wheelchair and relies on the intersection to cross the highway from the Affinity housing complex to shop at the Fred Meyer.

Young was among Affinity residents who protested the plan last year. Residents of Affinity used the light to cross the highway to shop and for easy north and south access from their apartments.

Traffic counts on the 9-mile section of U.S. 95 between Appleway and Highway 53 show 35,000 vehicles daily travel the corridor. The number jumps to 40,000 in July. It is expected to hit 60,000 in 20 years, according to ITD.