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Beginning on March 10, heavy rains caused intense flooding, landslides and avalanches across numerous counties in northern and central Idaho. State Highway 5 experienced significant damage after a section dropped more than four feet six miles east of Plummer in Benewah County, within the Coeur d’Alene Indian Reservation.
Additional damages occurred on more than 20 highway segments that need immediate attention. Grangemont Road in Clearwater County, Central Ridge Road in Lewis County, and Deep Creek Loop suffered the greatest damage.
The $1.25 million in “quick release” funds will be used primarily to restore emergency access and to initiate the most critical repairs.
“Today’s funding represents a down payment toward completing all the repairs on highways that travelers in Idaho rely upon,” said Acting Deputy Federal Highway Administrator Walter Waidelich. “Additional resources will become available as the state continues to assess the damage.”
This initial installment will go toward the costs of short-term repairs now, which can help long-term repair work begin more quickly. The FHWA’s ER program provides funding for highways and bridges damaged by natural disasters or catastrophic events.