Hearing set on proposed route for U.S. 95 realignment A public hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 23, on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the U.S. 95 Thorncreek to Moscow realignment project. The hearing, from 2 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Best Western Plus University Inn in Moscow, will be in an open-house format. Project staff will be available to answer questions, information will be displayed and a video illustrating the project will be shown. Hearing officers will accept comments from those who want to give input verbally. Comments can be given individually any time during the hearing, and during open microphone sessions at 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Comments also can be e-mailed to comments@itd.idaho.gov or sent by mail to: Office of Communications, P.O. Box 7129, Boise, ID 83707-1129. The DEIS is an analysis of potential environmental effects of alignments proposed to improve U.S. 95 from Thorncreek Road to Moscow. Alternatives that were analyzed include an eastern alignment, western alignment, central alignment and no action alignment. The DEIS identifies the eastern alignment as the preferred alternative. The project proposes to widen and realign the 6.5 mile-section of U.S. 95 to four lanes from Thorncreek to Moscow, improving the route’s capacity. The proposed eastern alignment also would have fewer curves and steep grades, improving safety.
All comments on the DEIS must be received by ITD on or before Feb. 23. After public comments have been evaluated, a final decision on the alignment selection will be made. The video and other project information are available at: www.us95thorncreek.com.
Published 1-18-2013 |