Some North Idaho forest roads to undergo maintenance

The Idaho Panhandle National Forests has announced several upcoming road closures on the Sandpoint and Bonners Ferry Ranger Districts. The closures will facilitate road maintenance and repair activities through September, according to today's press release.

Impacts in the Bonners Ferry Ranger District will include:

· Traffic delays and heavy truck traffic on Snow Creek Road (Forest Service Road 402), Cooks Pass Road (Forest Service Road 661), Caribou Pass Road (Forest Service Road 1007), and North Caribou Creek Road (Forest Service Road 2646) during August and September until repair activities are completed.

· Due to construction activity to replace culverts on Black Creek and Cabin Creek, a 1.72-mile section of Callahan Creek Boulder Road (Forest Service Road 427) will be closed for three weeks from its junction with Forest Service Road 408 to its junction with Forest Service Road 2624 beginning August 19th. 

Road 427 provides access to the Boulder Meadows area — an alternative access route to Boulder Meadows is Forest Service Road 2624.

Impacts in the Sandpoint Ranger District will include:

· The Morris Creek Bridge at milepost 6.12 of Lightning Creek Road (Forest Service Road 419) will be closed for approximately one week in August/September.

· In order to repair flood damage between mileposts 8 and 10, a 5-mile section of Lightning Creek Road (Forest Service Road 419) will be closed for two weeks from its junction with Porcupine Lake Road (Forest Service Road 642) at milepost 9.7 to the Rattle Creek Bridge at milepost 14.7 in August/September. Expect delays, road maintenance equipment, and heavy truck traffic on the open sections of Lightning Creek Road while repairs are being completed. 

Access to the Upper Lightning Creek area will still be possible via Trestle Creek Road (Forest Service Road 275). Access to the Auxor Basin and Wellington Creek will still be possible via the Strong Creek OHV Trail (Forest Service Trail 444).