I-90 plan rolling along
Traffic flows on Interstate in Coeur d'Alene on Monday afternoon. The Coeur d'Alene City Council will hear the latest from the Idaho Transportation Department tonight on plans to improve the corridor between Post Falls and Coeur d'Alene.
BILL BULEY/Press
COEUR d'ALENE — A plan to widen and improve Interstate 90 between Coeur d'Alene and Post Falls will be outlined at tonight's Coeur d'Alene City Council meeting.
Erika Bowen, project manager with the Idaho Transportation Department, will explain efforts to modernize the I-90 corridor from Highway 41 to U.S. 95 "to improve safety, capacity and mobility for current and future travel demands."
According to the ITD, the changes would result in more lanes to accommodate growth; longer ramps with better visibility; improved response time to crashes; better access to local roads; and additional bike/pedestrian facilities.
As it stands, the project is in the planning stages, with goals to complete preliminary designs by year's end and approve corridor recommendations next year, according to ITD.
Construction, which would take an estimated two to three years, would not begin for a few years, perhaps 2025.
Three open houses are scheduled, as well. The first is 4 to 7 p.m. Nov. 1 at Red Lion Templin's Hotel in Post Falls. Another is set for 4 to 7 p.m. Nov. 2 at the Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn, while online presentations are set for Nov. 1 to Nov. 15 at ITDprojects.org/i90corridor
With traffic conditions congested now and volumes expected to double by 2045, ITD is studying I-90 from Washington state line to Coeur d’Alene.
The study will evaluate needs and identify potential solutions like additional lanes and reconfigured interchanges to improve safety, capacity and mobility, ITD said.