US-95: Lakeshore Drive to Sagle Road

The department does not plan to decrease the speed limit. Speed limits on key routes are reviewed every couple of years and are set based on the speed most drivers are traveling. The last speed study for US-95 through Sagle was completed in 2019 and showed that most drivers travel approximately 52 mph. The current speed limit is consistent with the data. Artificially reducing the speed limit requires the consistent presence of law enforcement and proves to be less safe than allowing traffic to flow consistently.

Yes, the storage area for the U-turn is 155-feet long with another 400 feet available for deceleration. Beyond that, there is an existing two-way center turn lane that could be used if necessary.

The storage length was calculated based on the estimated number of drivers who would need to use it, how many gaps there are in oncoming traffic, and what speed drivers are traveling at. All highway improvements are designed to serve semi-trucks, which are typically longer than most recreational vehicle combinations.

ITD takes many factors into consideration when installing a traffic signal or roundabout, including traffic movement in all directions, pedestrian activity, speed limits, etc. to determine which solutions are appropriate for safety, mobility, and economic opportunity through the area. Neither a signal nor roundabout would be appropriate at this intersection.

A signal would cause more stop-and-go traffic that would result in an increase of rear-end collisions. Its proximity to the bridge would cause congestion on mainline US-95 and stopping on the bridge, which it wasn’t designed for. There is not enough turning traffic to justify slowing down drivers already on the highway. Signals can be warranted for many reasons, but one at Lakeshore Drive does not work as well as the U-turn option.

A roundabout in this location would not be compatible with the flow of traffic or volume of oversized vehicles that travel this route. Given heavy traffic that predominately flows to the north or south, drivers would still struggle to find gaps to enter the roundabout. Traffic would also have to be slowed down significantly to enter the roundabout at a safe speed and the roundabout would have to be very large to accommodate the turning radius of larger vehicles. This design would likely result in loss of property to nearby businesses and residents.

The recently constructed changes at US-95 and Lakeshore Drive are an interim solution. ITD is actively studying various alternatives for the long-term solution at Lakeshore and US-95, including an interchange, as well as the rest of the corridor between Sagle and the Long Bridge. When information becomes available, it will be posted to itdprojects.org/us95lakeshoredrive.

Earlier efforts with this project examined options to improve traffic flow and safety, and a U-turn for southbound drivers was identified as the best. The department has not identified any funding for construction and recommends drivers take Lignite Road to Sagle Road, and use the new signal that will be installed with the project.

ITD analyzes crash data and turning counts when determining whether turn lanes are needed. Safety projects are competitively funded on a statewide basis, meaning that available funding is first directed at areas of the greatest need. When prioritizing safety projects, the benefit of the proposed improvement and the cost are taken into account; more effective, low-cost solutions are implemented first.

ITD is currently reevaluating a study of US-95 from Sagle to Lakeshore Drive to identify any additional transportation needs and provide a lookahead to the future of the highway. The study process could take several years due to environmental considerations and will result in several phases of improvements that will be constructed over decades as funding becomes available.

Corridor plans usually detail significant, complex improvements that may take decades to complete. A nearby plan from Garwood to Sagle was finished in 2010. While some segments were completed in the years following, some are in construction today, and some are being updated to be ready for future construction funding opportunities. The department maintains environmental and design studies to take quick action when funding becomes available.

When information becomes available on the ongoing study, it will be posted at itdprojects.org/us95lakeshoredrive.

Property owners are consulted during the design process, including an initial contact when all impacts may not be known or for certain. Communication continues throughout the design process until it is ready to be constructed. Most projects are planned seven years in advance.

Before land or easements are purchased, independent appraisals will be conducted, and owners will have the chance to negotiate. The department pays fair market value for impacts.

The right-of-way section of ITD is responsible for the acquisition of all property required for highway construction, material sources, and maintenance shed sites. For more information about the ROW process, please visit https://itd.idaho.gov/row.