Bridge proposed over troubled Coeur d'Alene intersection questioned

The Idaho Transportation Department's proposal to build a bridge over Appleway Avenue as part of the U.S. 95 and Interstate 90 interchange project was questioned by Coeur d’Alene Councilman Dan Gookin.

“Appleway is a prime commercial corridor in the city and we’re going to be cutting off one of the major points of access to it, or you want to cut off one of the major points of access to it,” Gookin said Tuesday, adding, “and doing something that I think is horrendously expensive.” 

“You’re going to kill small businesses doing that,” said one man in the crowd at Tuesday’s City Council meeting.  

Gookin agreed. 

“This is going to kill a lot of businesses there,” he said. 

ITD officials said there are four options to improve the interchange, with the planned bridge to improve traffic flow in two of them. Construction could begin in 2028.

“Congestion also drives business away,” said Erika Bowen, ITD manager. “We’re proposing this is the best solution but certainly looking for public comment.” 

The ITD has scheduled an open house on the I-90 and U.S. 95 interchange project from 4 to 7 p.m. March 5 at the Best Western Plus Coeur d’Alene Inn.  

The goal of the proposed design is to expand the interchange, enhance safety and improve mobility to support future traffic volumes, which are expected to double by 2045, according to ITD. 

Joseph Sprague, ITD project manager, said with so much traffic in tight quarters in a short section on U.S. 95 between Ironwood Drive and Appleway Avenue, “it’s a real mess in there."

“I’m sure everyone has driven through this area, experienced the pain of trying to get through this interchange,” Sprague said. 

Studies to improve the area began in 2021 and design phases got underway last year. Proposed improvements include a new single-point urban interchange at I-90 and U.S. 95.

Sprague said SPUIs “really handle the traffic well in a tighter area” and have a “much higher capacity with the ability to push all the volume through with one signal instead of two.” 

The project also covers ramp improvements at Fourth Street; I-90 widening from U.S. 95 to Fourth Street; and U.S. 95 widening from Emma Avenue to Bosanko Avenue. 

Intersection improvements include U.S. 95 from Emma Avenue to Neider Avenue; Fourth Street, at the westbound I-90 ramps and Appleway/Best Avenue; Northwest Boulevard, at the westbound I-90 ramps and Appleway Avenue. 

A key change would be elevating U.S. 95 on a bridge, and Appleway Avenue would be lowered so the two roads would no longer intersect.

“It's really going to move traffic along 95 a lot more efficiently,” Sprague said.  

Gookin said he wanted to see the alternatives to improve the interchange without the bridge. He said not only would a bridge be “tremendously expensive,” it would eliminate drivers from turning onto Appleway from U.S. 95. They would instead have to find alternative routes and circle back. 

“There’s no other way to do it?” he said. 

Sprague said having traffic signals so close to the on- and off-ramps to I-90 creates logistical problems. He said the intersection has a "failing level of service.” 

“You can see how it handles it right now,” he said. “It’s very close, very difficult to coordinate those signals when it's packed that tightly.” 

According to ITD, the I-90, U.S. 95 Interchange design is being funded with Transportation Expansion and Congestion Mitigation funds as part of Gov. Brad Little’s Leading Idaho initiative.  

“The program allows ITD to accelerate project timelines to address rapid growth and build critical infrastructure today that would otherwise take many years to fund and build,” according to ITD.  

The corridor is one of 13 approved TECM corridors in the state. Funding for the I-90, U.S. 95 Interchange construction and for future I-90 projects between Highway 41 to 15th Street has not been identified “but will be determined based on project readiness and funding availability, ITD said. 

ITD has already funded approximately $250 million in costs associated with the I-90 corridor study, the I-90 widening projects from Highway 41 to U.S. 95, and the I-90, U.S. 95 Interchange design. 

"Work to fund, design, and construct the remaining portions of the corridor will be completed in stages over many years," ITD said.