Changes coming to Highway 95

Changes coming to Highway 95; ITD schedules
informational open house in Bonners Ferry

January 27, 2015

Highway 95 will be changing in Boundary County.

Changes in Highway 95 will impact all of us who live here in some way.

For now, the Idaho Transportation Department is looking at modifications of Highway 95 through the South Hill area of Bonners Ferry. It is likely other changes to the Highway in other areas of Boundary County will be happening in the future.

As part of the process at this early stage, the Idaho Transportation Department is seeking input from those who live here in Boundary County. ITD has scheduled an open house that will both provide information on what they are currently considering on the Highway 95 South Hill modification project, and also to get input from you, as a resident of this area.

The Idaho Transportation Department is inviting all to attend this informational open house on Thursday, February 5. This open house will focus on the upcoming Bonners Ferry South Hill project on U.S. Highway 95.

The open house will be held at the National Guard Armory at 6566 Main Street (on U.S. 95) in Bonners Ferry. The public is invited to drop by anytime between 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

The ITD is seeking public input on a preliminary design of proposed improvements along U.S. 95 through the South Hill area of Bonners Ferry between Alderson Lane and Madison Street. The preliminary design will continue with three lanes north from Alderson Lane to Madison Street, and addresses pedestrian and vehicular safety, stormwater runoff, alignment of city street intersections, and consistency of roadway configuration through town.

This open house will be based on the plan to continue the type of improvement project that was constructed in 2003 on U.S. 95 between Walker Way and Alderson Lane, factoring in the results of a U.S. 95 Corridor Study conducted in 2012, which included a considerable amount of public input.

The open house will feature displays of the highway corridor with details on right of way, typical roadway cross section, and intersection modifications. The public will have the opportunity to learn more about the process, ask questions of project staff, and share comments and concerns regarding access issues and needs along U.S. 95 through Bonners Ferry.

For more information on the open house, please contact Ben Ward, P.E., ITD District 1 Project Manager at (208) 772-1285, or Don Davis, P.E., ITD District 1 Senior Transportation Planner at (208) 772-8019.

For detailed information on all aspects of Highway 95 in Boundary County, including its current condition, funding set aside for the project (currently over $5 million), proposals for potential highway corridors, the latest ITD information, discussions held by Boundary County's local Transportation Committee, and just about any information having to do with Highway 95 in our area, please consult the website http://www.hwy95bonnersferry.com/ This website is maintained by local resident Paul RW Anthony, and is a comprehensive and always up-to-date source for information on Highway 95 and upcoming plans for its upcoming modification and rebuild.

For those planning on attending the ITD Open House on February 5, consider reviewing this website to get up to speed on the current situation with the Highway. There one should find all the information needed to prepare to go into the ITD Open House with a good working knowledge of all current Highway 95 issues, funding, current status, and future plans.