The highway will be rebuilt with a continuous center turn lane and pedestrian facilities on both sides, with all work expected to be done in 2024 or earlier.
Work in 2020 finished improvements to the first phase, and the next phase will start again in 2023. If state funds are available, the project could be advanced and start construction again in 2022.
The highway will be reconstructed through town, first between Kootenai River Bridge and Alderson Lane (Stage 1) and then between Alderson Lane and Labrosse Hill Street (Stage 2).
Work will extend the three-lane highway section through town and bring wider shoulders, sidewalks on both sides, new lighting and updated drainage to Bonners Ferry.
Stage 1 is complete, and Stage 2 is being designed.
View project overview 2018-2024Plans call to shift US-95 slightly to the east to straighten the curve in the area, allowing Pine Island Road to be realigned to be more perpendicular to the highway. Realignment is designed to lessen the incline on the side street and ease turning movements onto and off the highway.
To prepare for construction, utilities and signs will be relocated on both sides of the highway in the summer of 2021. Impacts to traffic are expected to be minimal and typically only require the closure of the shoulders. Trees have also been removed to make room for future widening.
Work will begin in early June 2021 to prepare for future widening by relocating signs and utilities.