Area residents are frustrated on the freeway

By BRIAN WALKER

Hagadone News Network

COEUR d'ALENE — It's a straight stretch of eastbound Interstate 90 through Coeur d'Alene, but this construction project has thrown a curve at many motorists.

If eastbound drivers want to exit at U.S. 95, Fourth Street or 15th Street, they must be in the right-hand lane before the Northwest Boulevard exit.

Otherwise, if motorists try to avoid the backed-up traffic prior to Northwest by getting in the passing lane — the conventional way of thinking in the corridor — they won't be able to exit until the Sherman Avenue/Fernan exit on the east side of Coeur d'Alene.

Even if drivers are in the right lane prior to Northwest Boulevard, there's no guarantee they'll be able to exit at Fourth Street because the off-ramp there was being constructed on Wednesday.

WHAT TO DO

Reed Hollinshead, a public information specialist at the Idaho Transportation Department, said the project requires eastbound drivers to make a merge decision in advance of Northwest.

He said ITD is evaluating whether advance warning signs a half mile from the exit are sufficient or if they should be placed farther back to allow for more warning. Additional signage is also being considered. The speed limit is reduced to 55 mph in the construction zone.

"Folks may not be familiar with the situation or they may not be paying attention, so if they wait too late to make a decision, they likely won't be able to get in the right lane," Hollinshead said.

Eastbound drivers in the fast lane are not able to exit the freeway, while those in the slow lane are. The two eastbound lanes are separated by a barrier so drivers aren't able to change lanes once they’re in the construction zone.

"It's important that they read the signs so they know when to choose the appropriate lane," ITD's Megan Sausser said.

Hollinshead said drivers will have to get used to the situation.

"There will be four and a half weeks of this eastbound, then it shifts to westbound," he said. "Drivers, one way or another, will be impacted with this through the first week of October."

AIRING ANXIETY

Drivers have vented their frustrations with online comments, calling for improved signage or confessing they've had to learn the hard way by not being in the right lane while trying to exit.

"It would be nice for (ITD) to post some signs indicating through traffic stay left and a sign saying following exits stay right," Ed Morrow wrote. "Is that asking too much?"

John Mohatt added: "It is very confusing and is only made more difficult when people see the reduced speed limit sign, then think it doesn't apply to them, then they slam on their brakes and try to take (the Northwest Boulevard exit)."

Hollinshead said ITD believes time will heal. Drivers tend to learn and adjust to new situations, as they did with a similar freeway project in the Boise area.

"It took a few days for drivers to figure it out," he said.

Hollinshead said he's learned himself that he hasn't made traffic decisions in time. Snapping out of "auto pilot" might not be easy for some.

"Some people get used to commuting the same way and not paying attention, but unfortunately this is one of those situations they have to," he said.

END IS NEAR

The project is expected to finish in late October. The freeway is being reconstructed in both directions from Northwest Boulevard to Ninth Street and will remain two lanes in each direction.

I-90 in the stretch is being lowered under bridges so trucks with tall loads can remain on the freeway instead of having to exit onto over-height routes in Coeur d'Alene.

Last year the freeway was reconstructed between Ninth and Sherman. The total cost of the two-year project is $23.5 million.

Residents interested in receiving area construction updates from ITD can email: Megan.Sausser@itd.idaho.gov