8/15/2016
Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov
Chip seal on Idaho 41, funded by general fund surplus, set to begin Aug. 22
COEUR d'ALENE - Chip sealing on nearly 11 miles of Idaho 41 near Rathdrum and Spirit Lake is set to begin Monday (Aug. 22) and end a month later. The work will protect the roadway surface, extending the life of the highway and providing improved traction this winter for the safety of drivers.
The work is on Idaho 41, from Rathdrum north to its junction with Idaho 54, and from its junction with Idaho 53 north to the U.S. 2 junction at Spirit Lake heading toward Oldtown.
This is the final portion of a $4.5 million project, funded by surplus in the general fund, that brought heavy construction to those stretches of Idaho 41 beginning in early June.
The earlier work involved roadway safety improvements, including adding three new turn bays at select intersections, and sign and lighting improvements encompassing 32 miles of roadway in the area. Commercial access and mobility were served through the project.
The chip seal will encompass three main segments of the highway:
Beginning Aug. 23 - Rathdrum to the junction with Idaho 54 (milepost 7.9-18.2)
Beginning Aug. 22 - Intersection of Idaho 41 and Spirit Lake Cutoff Road (milepost 20.8-21.0)
Beginning Aug. 22 - Intersection of Idaho 41 and Old Priest River Road (milepost 37.4-37.6)
The chip seal is scheduled during daytime hours, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Drivers are asked to use an alternate route if at all possible. Motorcyclists, in particular, should be aware of loose rocks. Heavy-truck traffic on the route may be restricted if necessary.
Check the Idaho Traveler Services site at 511.idaho.gov, or call 5-1-1 for the latest updates and road conditions in the area.
Poe Asphalt Paving Inc., of Clarkston, Washington, is the contractor on this project.
The Idaho Transportation Board selected road and bridge projects across Idaho in December 2015 for maintenance and repair work. The projects are all funded by the $54.1 million in general fund surplus provided by the Idaho Legislature last year. Selections came from a pool of projects based on analysis of each project’s return on investment in the areas of safety, mobility, economic opportunity, bridge condition, and right-of-way purchases.