10/16/2015
Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov
Another northern Idaho project fueled by new revenue funds expected to start Monday
COEUR D'ALENE - Replacement of four failing culverts on U.S. 95 between Smith Creek and Sheep Creek (the nearest communities are Desmet to the north and Samuels to the south) is expected to begin Monday, Oct. 19. with roadwork reconstruction beginning next spring in this four-mile stretch to enhance motorist safety, bring the route up to current roadway standards and serve the commercial trucks that use this route.
The four existing box culverts in this stretch (milepost 372.9-376.8) will be replaced with three corrugated metal pipes and one box culvert.
This section of roadway is curvy and narrow, with many issues and safety concerns. Project improvements will reduce maintenance costs, improve roadway layout at a 60-mph design speed, and reduce crashes associated with its current limitations.
The roadwork beginning next spring will fully reconstruct this portion of U.S. 95 and widen this two-lane section of road. The work will widen roadway shoulders, and in some areas, add center turn lanes.
The project is one of the statewide projects advanced by the Idaho Transportation Board in May, based on readiness and matching criteria for critical need to maintain or repair state highways and bridges. The projects take advantage of increased funding allocated by the Idaho Legislature earlier this year.
Less than six months after allocating funds from the first transportation-revenue increase in nearly two decades, ITD has already completed the first projects funded with the increase, including a trio of bridges on U.S. 2 in northern Idaho.
More than a half-dozen other projects around the state will be completed before the end of 2015, with work on the remaining projects scheduled to begin next spring and summer.
Apollo Inc., of Kennewick, Wash., is the contractor on this $11.6 million project.