COEUR d'ALENE - A two-lane, two-mile bottleneck on U.S. 95
north of Hayden will be expanded using $15.8 million in federal stimulus
savings, the Idaho Transportation Board decided today.
The project will widen a two-lane section of U.S. 95,
between Wyoming Avenue and the Idaho 53 junction to connect with four-lane
segments on both sides. Widening the small segment of highway will create four
continuous lanes from Coeur d'Alene to north of Garwood when construction is
completed.
"Designating some of the savings from stimulus projects
to this heavily traveled segment of U.S. 95 makes good sense," said Idaho
Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter. "Funneling traffic from four lanes to
two lanes in this short section creates a real safety risk that needs to be
eliminated."
State Rep. Frank Henderson (R-Post Falls) agrees.
"It is critical that we not have a two-lane bottleneck
between two four-lane sections of highway. By building this project and closing
the gap, we are reducing congestion, preventing accidents and positioning the
region for future economic development."
"My
satisfaction with this announcement is shared by all north Idaho legislators.
We have worked as a team to correct this problem and will continue to do so, to
help throughout the state wherever there is a similar threat to the safety of
the driving public. Gov. Otter, of course, was the key leader in providing the
solution."
The state anticipates saving $33 million on the eight major federal transportation stimulus projects bid by contractors. Transportation department officials credit an increase in the number of contractors bidding projects for the savings. The transportation board decided to wait until bids on the U.S. 93 Twin Falls Alternate Route project is open this month to decide which projects to fund with remaining stimulus savings.
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Media note (not for dissemination): Video clips and photographs of the U.S. 95, Wyoming Avenue to Idaho 53 Junction project are available at the Idaho Transportation Department's FTP site.
To access the video or photos, please go to the willowing Web site: ftp://ftp1.idaho.gov
Log on with the user name itdcommu and use the password W39gy7D2.
For those who do not have the FTP software, the video and photos can be retrieved
from http://itd.idaho.gov/Groundbreaking/index.asp.