ITD: Interchange concerns

On Wednesday, the Idaho Transportation Department held another meeting about their “almost final” design of the interchange at I-90 and U.S. 41. I suspect it is final but they need to go through another round of reaching out to the public.

The design, whether you like it or not, is a fix for the unsafe westbound exits and the 41 at Seltice mishmash. But three glaring challenges were not discussed due to lack of funding or a head-in-the-sand approach, or both.

1. First work will be improving U.S. 41 to get it to two lanes in each direction. Great. Get more traffic faster to the interchange with problems?

2. Work on the revised interchange will commence in 2023. Earlier IDT info had 2021. It will take two years (fast by most examples of interchange redo but while it might improve things, it will only make miserable traffic a bit less miserable as by 2025, if prairie housing growth continues, only another minimum four-lane north-south route and interchange can alleviate overburdened Ramsey and 41. Huetter is the answer.

3. IDT personnel at the meeting implied that they know another interchange is needed but 41/90 is only $40 million and Huetter would be much more. Well, it will be even more if you wait.

Suggestion: Why not try to alleviate westbound 90 at 41 exits by at least offering a westbound off-ramp at Huetter? Adapt the rest area ramp into dual purpose with two lanes … left side lane takes vehicles to rest area, right lane takes them to Mullan, right turn over to Huetter, signal added at Huetter and Mullan providing alternate easy accessed northbound alternative choice. While at it, acquire the right of way at Huetter for a full interchange.

HOWARD BURNS

Post Falls