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US-12: Tumble Creek to Lochsa Ranger Station

Widening nine miles of US-12 will increase safety on this narrow, winding route.

Shoulders of the highway will be widened to two feet.

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Design details

Shoulders will be widened to two feet, and rumble strips will be added to the center line of no-passing zones. The highway will also be resurfaced, and drainage culverts will be replaced.

Wider shoulders will ultimately be safer by allowing drivers more time and space to recover after leaving their lane or to react to wildlife on the road. Rumble strips will help drivers maintain their lane of travel. Although no crashes were related to the presence of bicyclists, wider shoulders would help separate them from cars and trucks, increasing their safety.

Visualize the difference

Tribal study

A study has been completed to catalog and identify any areas that may be of cultural concern to the Nez Perce Tribe.

ITD has worked with the tribe to avoid any areas and to mitigate any adverse effects.

Environmental process

ITD is evaluating the effect of proposed changes on wetlands, wildlife, archaeological sites and more. Given the highway’s designation as a scenic byway along a Wild and Scenic River, ITD has been working closely with the U.S. Forest Service.

Proposed improvements will be designed to blend in with the natural scenery. For example, road signs will be painted brown on the back, and new retaining walls will be covered with vegetation so that they will not be visible to river users.

Corridor plans

ITD plans to widen the shoulders of US-12 from the Syringa area to Warm Springs (60 miles). Most projects are in design.

Other similar projects include 10 miles in 2023 between Holly Creek and Lochsa Ranger Station and 4 miles between Saddle Camp Road and Post Office Creek.

For a complete list of projects, visit itd.idaho.gov/funding.

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