ITD presents on future road projects

SANDPOINT — The Idaho Transportation Department presented upcoming road projects on Route 200, U.S. 2 and U.S. 95 during a meeting Monday, hosted by Sandpoint Kiwanis.

Heather McDaniel, communications coordinator with ITD, said the department expects to include a center turn lane on Highway 200 from McGhee Road to Kootenai Street.

ITD officials are also working with the city of Kootenai on incorporating a grant to construct a pedestrian trail on Railroad Avenue. Additionally, a Strategic Initiatives Program local transportation grant will be used to repave the avenue. 

On U.S. 2, ITD has been working with the city of Sandpoint to relocate the Church Street traffic signal to Pine Street, allowing for two-way traffic on all of Pine Street. Officials are also working on rerouting commercial trucks so Pine Street can maintain its character with less traffic, McDaniel said.

Following a public meeting allowing community input on improvements to U.S. 95, ITD is working to move forward with a preferred concept that re-evaluates the previous Modified Brown design through the Sagle corridor, McDaniel said. The preferred concept includes a four-lane divided highway, frontage roads on the east and west sides, interchanges at Dufort and Brisboys roads and local road overpasses at Ivy Drive, and Algoma Spur, Monarch/North Gun Club, and Bottle Bay roads, she said. Officials will also be working to minimize impacts to the BNSF Railway as well as the Avista power station along Gun Club Road. 

McDaniel gave several reasons for the changes to U.S. 95 outlined by the preferred concept. Advantages include improved mobility at the north end of the project thanks to the interchange slated for north of Sagle, reduced impacts to properties in the Sagle area, reduced cost for right-of-way purchases — which leads to more efficient construction timelines — and increased spacing between interchanges. 

In response to audience questions, Marvin Fenn, ITD engineering manager with ITD, addressed the future of the Long Bridge. He said that the bridge is relatively young and with such a recent investment of approximately $20,000,000, it’s unlikely there will be any major changes to the bridge in the near future. 

However, he said if the pedestrian bridge were to wear out, that could accelerate action and possibly encourage a dual-phased construction project for north- and south-bound sections of the bridge. He also stated that there are plans to reseal the bridge in summer 2024.