RATHDRUM - Joyce Johnson senses more vehicle crashes along Highway 53 are just waiting to happen.

The Rathdrum woman has seen the aftermath of some accidents before, including a nasty one involving a motorcyclist in the Hauser area several years ago.

So when she heard that the state is exploring ways to make the corridor from the state line, through Rathdrum, and to U.S. 95 safer, she was relieved.

"Something has to be done," Johnson said. "I think people tend to try to dart out onto Highway 53 into oncoming traffic and it's also getting to be a busier and busier stretch."

The Idaho Transportation Department will host an informational open house tonight on an access study from 5-7 in the Lakeland High School commons, 7006 W. Highway 53, Rathdrum.

Public comments will also be taken.

The study seeks to address safety, congestion and capacity issues along the corridor, but does not give project cost estimates or a timeline for improvements.

"We'll pursue them as funding and development arise," said Don Davis, ITD transportation planner.

There were 232 crashes in the corridor between 2007 to 2011, including one fatality and 90 injury-related accidents, according to ITD.

"A high percentage of vehicle crashes along state Highway 53 are associated with turning movements to and from driveways as well as to and from public roads," Davis said. "With the traffic volumes between 7,000 and 10,000 vehicles per day on Highway 53, investigation into the operational aspects of the highway was warranted."

Crash "hot spots" identified in the study include intersections at Prairie Avenue and Pleasantview, Meyer and Ramsey roads.

"The study reviewed the crashes, correlated them with the access points, identified a tool box of types of remedies, then aligned remedies with locations as possible solutions," Davis said.

Possible solutions include: developing roads parallel to Highway 53 so local traffic doesn't have to use the busy stretch, combining driveways of adjacent lots or businesses, gaining easements between adjacent lots so traffic doesn't have to use Highway 53, installing continuous left-turn lanes and modifying or eliminating public roads as access points.

Solutions could be implemented through land-use permits and future highway projects, Davis said.

The $149,000 study was conducted by consultant David Evans and Associates.

After public input is received, a final report is expected to be completed in late December.

For more information on the study, visit itd.idaho.gov/projects/D1/.

Open house tonight

• An informational open house on the Highway 53 access study will be presented at Lakeland High School in Rathdrum tonight from 5-7. Public comments will be accepted.