WORLEY - A $6.6 million project to improve U.S. 95 in Worley will start on Monday, the Idaho Transportation Department announced on Thursday.

Construction on the 2.75-mile stretch is expected to finish by Nov. 1.

It will include single lanes in each direction, a turn lane, bicycle lanes on both sides, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, drainage and street lighting.

Don Davis, ITD senior planner, said the state applied five times for funding for the project and was unsuccessful until the latest round.

"This will put the final touch on a much larger project," he said.

The project will complete a 15-year, $190 million realignment and reconstruction effort to upgrade 28 miles of U.S. 95 from narrow and winding with no shoulders to a highway that meets current design and safety standards.

"This stretch of highway has long been in dire need of some significant work," said Chief Allan, Coeur d'Alene Tribe chairman.

The project will address the remaining highway deficiencies that exist on U.S. 95 through Worley related to the large volume of heavy-weight trucks, non-existent shoulders, bicycle and pedestrian provisions, intersection illumination, stormwater runoff control and accommodation for the hourly rural public transit service currently provided to the community.

With continued improvements to U.S. 95, growers will be able to take a much more efficient and cost-effective route to the river-barge system. From the Worley area, the trip to Lewiston is 15 to 20 miles shorter in Idaho than diverting to Washington and 60 to 90 minutes faster due to topography and stopping with other interstate trucks at port of entry weigh stations when crossing the Idaho state line.

The project is funded through the federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant program.

Under the Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicle (GARVEE) program, ITD realigned, rebuilt and widened 4.2 miles of U.S. 95 north of Worley in the first stage of the project completed in fall 2009.

U.S. 95 provides the primary north-south link for North Idaho commerce, transportation and tourism. Many transportation observers considered the segment of U.S. 95 to be one of the most dangerous roadways in the state due to sharp curves and the resulting sight-distance limitations.

M.A. DeAtley Construction Inc., of Clarkston, Wash., is the contractor for the Worley project.