U.S. 95 North in need of major and minor improvements

BONNERS FERRY — Three major improvements in the last 15 years have significantly decreased crashes on highways in the county.

The Bonners Ferry North Hill project reduced crashes by 49 percent for that stretch of highway.

The Copeland State Highway 1 project reduced crashes by 87 percent and the Upper Moyie River Bridge Project near Eastport reduced crashes by 50 percent.

The Idaho Transportation Department recently conducted a study on Highway 95 in Boundary County to determine future improvements for safety and traffic volumes. Numerous sections were listed for improvements.

North of Three-Mile Junction to mile marker 517, potential highway improvements include realigning substandard curves, widening clear spaces and adding shoulders.

Turner Hill Road and Camp Nine Road intersections could use improved signage, sight distance and street lighting.

Oxford Road, Riverside Street and Schoolhouse Road/Trail Creek Road intersections were suggested for speed studies.

The intersection of Highway 95 and 2 was identified for a lower posted speed limit, possibly lengthening the left turn lanes and adding a southbound right-turn lane on Highway 95.

Both Riverside Street and Kootenai Street could be evaluated for traffic signals.

McArthur Lake Hill may be evaluated for the addition of a northbound left turning lane to McArthur Lake Road.

Side streets on the South Hill also need to be amended to improve traffic flow. The single lane on the side streets hampers turning traffic explained Don Davis, ITD. Right-turning traffic is hampered by left-turning traffic because there is only one lane. Creating dedicated turn lanes on the side streets onto Highway 95 is a combined state and local problem said Davis.

Another solution to ease congestion on the South Hill is to better connect the side streets. Several neighborhoods are not connected to other side streets and cannot go anywhere without turning onto the highway.

A bypass is also suggested to ease congestion on the South Hill. A bypass would decrease traffic by 25 percent and would provide larger gaps for turning traffic on the South Hill.

The proposed bypass would follow the county right-of-way by the railroad through the valley to the Kootenai River. The south end would connect near the golf course. No options have been proposed for a connection on the north end.

“The level of service is better but does it still warrant the cost of the bypass?” said Davis. “We haven’t done a cost estimate of the bypass or economic analysis yet.”

The other options include a three-lane or five-lane highway through the South Hill. The five-lane highway would have a more severe impact on properties bordering the highway said Davis.

When ITD decides on a three-lane highway, five-lane highway or bypass, the expansion won’t happen quickly. With a decline in fuel tax revenue, the ITD only focuses on a few expansion projects every year across the entire state, resulting in a waiting list of projects.