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Nez Perce, ITD celebrate partnership, groundbreaking of new facility

A new partnership involving the Nez Perce Tribe and ITD will provide much needed relief for travelers on U.S. 95 south of Lewiston.

ITD representatives will join tribal leaders Thursday to celebrate the beginning of construction on an expanded traveler facility near Winchester. The public groundbreaking will be at 1:30 p.m. (PST).

The cooperative effort to rebuild and expand services at the Camas Express began several years ago. The agreement is based on a successful “Oasis” facility near McCammon that takes advantage of an existing Flying J truck stop on Interstate 15 to make services available to motorists 24-hours per day at no charge. The federal Oasis program encourages private/public partnerships to operate traveler facilities along interstate highways.

ITD contributed toward remodeling and expansion of the facility south of Pocatello and has entered into a similar agreement with the Nez Perce Tribe.

The new partnership in District 2 will help expand the Camas Express to serve drivers on Idaho’s only major north-south highway. Initially, ITD considered building a new rest area in the Winchester area but chose the Nez Perce Tribe partnership instead to take advantage of an existing facility and avoid duplication of services.

“The Nez Perce Tribe purchased this business and property location on the Camas Prairie with the intent to develop the business as a tribal enterprise,” said Jamie Olson, executive officer of Nez Perce Tribal Enterprises. “Our partnership with the Idaho Transportation Department provides an even greater economic development opportunity for the Tribe’s business expansion.”

ITD’s approach provides the same quality amenities found at other state-operated rest areas, including public restrooms, picnic areas, overnight truck parking and a safety rest stop for motorists.

The public will have 24-hour free access to the restrooms through a separate entrance that will not require individuals to go through the convenience store unless they choose to do so.

“It’s a win-win proposition for the tribe, travelers and the state,” explains District 2 Engineer Jim Carpenter. “The new facility will fill a 182-mile void between existing rest areas on U.S. 95, save ITD the cost of building a new, separate rest area at that location and will provide higher visibility for the convenience store.”

The closest state-operated rest areas on the highway are Sheep Creek, about 121 miles south of Lapwai (89 miles from Winchester), and Mineral Mountain, 26 miles north of Moscow.

The Nez Perce Tribe purchased the Cadillac Ranch gas station and restaurant at the top of the Winchester Grade (milepost 278) about three years ago. The existing restaurant was converted to a convenience store with deli services.

The tribe will replace the existing building and expand the parking area at a cost of approximately $3.8 million using Certified Indian Business contractors. The tribe’s new Construction Management Group will oversee the enterprise project.

ITD’s $350,000 contribution to the project will help expand the parking area to accommodate more trucks and provide public access to the restrooms. The tribe will be responsible for the cost of maintaining the restrooms and providing 24-hour access.

Construction of the new facility is expected to begin shortly after the groundbreaking and should be completed by the peak summer travel season in mid-2013.