US-95: Thorn Creek Road to Moscow

Expanding the highway to four lanes on a new alignment will not only add capacity and reduce travel times but also significantly improve safety.

New alignment

Construction underway

Controlled blasting to resume throughout spring

Construction

The 2023 construction season began in early February. Work will take place near Eid Road and will include building a rock embankment for the site of the two new bridges and excavation on the north side of Reisenauer Hill. Controlled blasting is expected to resume weekly and continue throughout the spring.

It is anticipated that drivers will be able to take the new route in fall of 2024.

Read more on start of construction in 2023

Envision the new route

The new alignment will tie in at Reisenauer Hill, where the current four-lane section ends, and reconnect near the grain bins on the south end of Moscow.

Compared to the existing route, after construction US-95 will ascend at a gentler grade up Reisenauer Hill to the prairie below Paradise Ridge. The highway will cut through small hills below the ridge to maintain a consistent grade, cross over Eid Road via two bridges and descend into Moscow.

Generally, US-95 will be shifted to the east less than three-quarters of a mile, and ITD is in the process of relinquishing its jurisdiction of what will be old US-95 to North Latah Highway District.

With a flatter grade and fewer approaches, the new route will provide safer travel between Moscow and Lewiston.

Map of new route

Design details

About 6.5 miles of highway will be expanded to four lanes divided by a 34-foot median in the rural section. Shoulders will be widened, curves will be made easier to navigate and the grade will be less steep. New ditches will keep precipitation from gathering on the roadway, and a 30-foot clear zone will provide a safe area if a vehicle goes off the road.

County road intersections will have right and left turn lanes, and some current access points will be combined to limit the number of new intersections and driveways.

In the urban section just south of Moscow, a center turn lane, curbs, gutters and sidewalks will be added.

Leading Idaho

As part of Governor Brad Little’s Leading Idaho initiative, the 2021 Idaho Legislature dedicated $126 million of one-time funds from Idaho’s budget surplus to transportation projects statewide. The funds were split 60/40 between ITD and local jurisdictions. This project is partially paid for with ITD’s portion of the funds that will accelerate projects to replace bridges, restore pavements, and improve mobility in communities across Idaho.

Downloads & Resources

Final Environmental Impact Statement

Full FEIS Executive summary Public involvement summary

Record of Decision

Full ROD Alternatives map

December 2022

Winter shutdown

Winter shutdown is in effect due to weather with operations to resume in 2023. Earthwork on more than 2.5 miles of the new alignment on the project was completed for the season. The overall project is about 30 percent complete.

June 2022

Preliminary work underway

Crews mobilized into the middle segment and began survey.

November 2021

Contract awarded

M.A. DeAtley Construction out of Clarkston, WA, was awarded the contract for $57.7 million.

October 2021

ITD seeks bids

ITD now seeking bids through October 2021, bringing the project one step further to construction.

March 2021

Wetlands permit approved

On March 9, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers granted ITD a wetlands mitigation permit. Now ITD will finish right-of-way acquisition so the project can be put out for construction bids, possibly for construction in late 2021.

News story

February 2021

Revised permit application

As of February 2021, ITD has submitted a revised 404 permit application to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Once the permit is issued, ITD will finish right-of-way acquisition, and the project can be put out for construction bids, possibly for construction in late 2021.As of Ma

April 2020

Revising wetland report

ITD gathered information to update its wetland report in order to submit a revised 404 permit application with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Following that application, ITD will finish right-of-way acquisition. After those two steps are completed, the project can be put out for bids, possibly for construction in 2021.

December 2018

Expansion gets green light

The Ninth Circuit of Appeals ruled in favor of ITD in the latest appeal. Work will continue on final design plans and acquisition of right of way.