In recent years, the Panhandle has seen some of the highest population growth rates in the nation. That trend is expected to continue. Average Daily Traffic ​(ADT) is projected to increase by 64% in this area between 2022 and 2045. As growth and congestion have increased, safety is an increasing concern. This ​area of US-95 has seen over 150 crashes in the last two years, including three fatalities. A four-lane divided highway is necessary to address both congestion ​and safety.

The Idaho Transportation Department studied a No Action option in the original environmental impact statements for this project. This No Action alternative ​would leave the highway as it is, with only minor improvements and regular maintenance over time. These environmental impact statements found that with ​the No Action alternative, projected growth would cause congestion to reach unacceptable levels in future years. In addition, safety issues would continue to ​worsen. For these reasons, the No Action alternative was not selected.

Yes, ITD has considered adding signals to this corridor; however, those additions won’t fulfill the long-term needs of safety and mobility for US-95.

The traffic signal at Sagle Road installed in 2023 year was built as an interim safety solution in anticipation of this study, as are any additional signals that might ​be added in the future prior to expansion of US-95.

As the primary route through the state and into Canada, keeping traffic free flowing supports critical commerce activities. Investing in interchanges, rather than ​signals, will support the economy and provide safer access to the highway. Conversely, the addition of traffic signals would slow mobility and actually increase ​the likelihood of crashes and minor incidents when compared with the safety projections for a divided, controlled access freeway.

While roundabouts can allow traffic to flow more freely than signals, they are more difficult for the 2,400 commercial vehicles that travel US-95 each day to ​navigate. Considering the safety interests of non-motorized users including pedestrians and cyclists also makes roundabouts a difficult option because of the ​continuous flow of traffic.

Under the current concept design, we have the opportunity to place frontage roads which will separate local traffic from the high-speed highway traffic to ​improve both safety and mobility, which is the preferred solution and meets the long-range vision for functionality of US-95. Because this is being designed as ​a controlled access facility, there will be no signals or roundabouts needed.

Lane transitions are a common feature in transportation design both locally and nationwide. There are many areas along US-95, even currently in Sagle, ​where traffic successfully transitions from four lanes to two lanes without significant disruptions to the flow of traffic by providing adequate merging space ​and appropriate signage to make drivers aware of an upcoming reduction in lanes.

Expansion of US-95 has been prioritized ahead of expansion of the Long Bridge in order to mitigate corridor congestion issues for through traffic while ​collecting local traffic onto the highway from controlled connection points. ITD will widen the US-95 collector first and then address the Long Bridge later ​as funds allow.

The Long Bridge is not located within the area of consideration as part of the Dufort to Lakeshore project. As one of the hundreds of bridges in the State, ​the Long Bridge is evaluated routinely by a dedicated team of experts for its structural integrity and is already being considered under separate bridge-​programming for eventual replacement at the end of its lifespan.

The existing Long Bridge is actually two separate bridge structures coexisting side by side. The easternmost bridge was originally built in 1956 and is ​currently reserved exclusively for non-motorized pedestrian traffic, and the westernmost bridge was built in 1981 dedicated to vehicle travel. Both bridges ​underwent significant repairs in 2021 to replace joints, wrap piers with a protective coating and repair the surface, which has extended the service life of ​both bridges to 100 years of their original construction date.

When the bridge is eventually replaced and widened at the end of its current service life, it will result in a more seamless transition for motorists from US-​95 onto the bridge.

Yes! This project has always included plans ​to develop and expand bike and pedestrian ​facilities.

The proposed concept currently includes:

• New bicycle/pedestrian facilities along ​the corridor, either as a separated path ​or as a widened shoulder on frontage ​roads.
  
• A separated multi-use path on the west ​side from the Long Bridge to Ivy Drive.
  
• An additional path on the east side from ​Monarch Road to Algoma Spur.
  

Additional improvements may be made to ​the pathway system as the project design ​progresses.

Yes, the current Preferred Concept will ​require significantly less right-of-way than ​the alternative from the original ​environmental impact statement, which ​some may remember as being called the ​Modified Brown alternative.

Our team is continuing to refine design ​details. It is still too early to know the exact ​right of way needs for this project. Our goal ​with any design is to be sensitive to ​impacts on private citizens for the safety ​and mobility benefits for the greater public.

ITD will share more information about right ​of way as the design progresses.

The J-turn at Lakeshore Dr. was another ​temporary safety improvement, much like ​the signal at Sagle Road, to help mitigate ​serious safety issues for left-turning traffic ​until the expansion of US-95 can be ​completed.

Both the J-turn and the signal at Sagle Road ​will be eliminated when the ultimate ​corridor improvements are constructed, ​and no additional J-turns are included in ​the final concept design.

No. Keeping in alignment with the original environmental impact ​statements, the purpose of this project is to support the overall ​goal of accommodating present and future traffic demands and ​improving the safety of the existing highway for all users. The way ​we accomplish this is to upgrade the predominantly two-lane ​highway to a four-lane divided freeway with full access control.

US-95 is a federal highway and a designated truck route from the ​Canadian border to the southern United States. This project is ​being designed as a controlled access, high-speed arterial in ​keeping with this vision. There are sections now that are 45 mph, ​but these areas are only temporary solutions to current existing ​safety and congestion issues. Once the highway is expanded to a ​divided lane, controlled access facility, there will be no need for ​reduced speed limits.

At this time, funding has not been identified for this project. Our ​goal is to have this project designed and developed to a point that ​it is ready when funding does become available, either through ​state or federal funds.

We may be able to explore additional funding opportunities ​through grants or a bonding process similar to the current ​Transportation Expansion and Congestion Mitigation (TECM) ​program or the Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicle (GARVEE) ​program from the past that resulted in improvements from ​Garwood to Granite Hill. In this way, the state is able to utilize ​dedicated funding to bond future projects, providing transportation ​benefits to the taxpayers now. More information on TECM funding ​through Governor Little’s Leading Idaho initiative is available at ​Program Funding | Idaho Transportation Department.

Several factors contribute to the timeline of a project from concept to construction. While this project went through the environmental impact statement ​approval process in 2010, ITD is pursuing design updates in response to changes in conditions that could add time to the process.

ITD is reevaluating the placement of the interchanges that were previously approved at Dufort, South Gun Club and North Gun Club Roads, and instead ​proposing interchanges at Dufort Road and Brisboys Road providing the same functionality, but minimizing right-of-way impacts due to the significant ​development that has taken place over the last 13 years.

Typical projects go through design and construction over several years. The scope of the proposed changes will result in many phased projects that ​each will take time to finish design and negotiate with landowners to buy the necessary right of way to make room for expansion.

It could take up to 15 years for all of this to take place. However, if funding becomes available in the meantime, we might be able to streamline these ​processes. ITD will have more information about the project timeline as the process continues.

Lakeshore Drive and Spades Road are local routes under the jurisdiction ​of the county transportation department and are not included in ITD’s ​plans. ITD will, however, work with Bonner County to improve connection ​points between future US-95 interchanges at Brisboys Road and Dufort ​Road.

In addition, ITD will construct frontage roads along US-95 that will ​eventually become part of the local county road system after ​construction. These frontage roads will be designed and built to ​accommodate commercial vehicle traffic.

Yes, the Westmond and Cocolalla corridors were part of the original ​environmental impact statement, meaning those sections of US-95 are ​also being considered for future expansion and improvements. Copies ​of the original documents and the approved Modified Brown alternative ​for these locations can be viewed here.

With that being said, current data shows the Westmond and Cocolalla ​segments of US-95 have less congestion, crashes and fatalities than ​the Dufort to Lakeshore area. Design and construction improvements ​to US-95 near Westmond and Cocolalla will be prioritized after Dufort ​to Lakeshore.

It’s too early to know the exact right of way needs for this project, but ​ITD has staff dedicated to the right of way process and assisting ​landowners when the time comes, should your property be affected. To ​read more about the right of way process, visit ​https://itd.idaho.gov/row/.

The re-evaluation of the environmental impact statements and ​preliminary design needs to be completed before ITD can refine the ​preferred concept to a point where impacted property owners can be ​uniquely identified and begin the process of negotiating for land ​acquisition. It will likely be several years before we arrive that that point.

In the meantime, we encourage any landowners who feel they may be ​impacted and have not already been contacted by ITD, to reach out ​and provide us with your name and contact information for any ​possible future communication. The right of way staff can be reached ​at stacy.simkins@itd.idaho.gov.

Be sure to explain in the email that it is regarding:

KN23348, US-95, Dufort Road to Lakeshore Drive

Yes. ITD will host another public meeting in 2024 to address ​comments from the Nov. 2023 meeting and to provide an ​opportunity for the community to give additional input. At the next ​public meeting, we will work to better accommodate the ​overwhelming community interest of this project by securing a larger ​venue, or hosting meetings in multiple locations.

We will continue to gather input and engage with the community and ​key stakeholders over the next several years as the design is refined, ​environmental re-evaluation approval is obtained, and funding is ​secured.