POST FALLS — It was apparent that when New Orleans met North Idaho organization was necessary.

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen has been so popular in Post Falls that police and the fast-food chain will collaborate on traffic control until the craze eases.

Post Falls Police had an officer at the business on Tuesday — the second day it was open — after Monday's opening caused massive backups on Highway 41.

"We heard the complaints, so we had an officer on scene today to wave some people by to come back," said Assistant Police Chief Pat Knight. "It may have cut down on business, but we needed to try to minimize the traffic."

Knight said that, while Tuesday was also really busy at the business, traffic control measures eased congestion compared to Monday's gridlock.

Knight said Tuesday afternoon that he was unaware of any accidents at the location, but drivers illegally crossing double yellow lines into the business by turning from the southbound lane and the backup in the northbound lane caused safety concerns.

Police also placed cones on Highway 41 to prevent southbound drivers from turning into Popeyes. The Idaho Transportation Department plans to install additional signage in the corridor.

Knight said PFPD also met with Popeyes management, who plan to bring in a traffic control company to assist until the hype dies down.

"We'll see how the first week goes," he said. "It's a new place to go eat, so it will be wild for a little bit."

It's the first Popeyes in the area, so it's also attracting Washington residents.

"I counted some 40 vehicles backed up (on Monday night) on northbound Highway 41 all the way through the traffic light at the Interstate 90 interchange," local resident Bruce Kauffman wrote in an email to The Press.

"Everyone was waiting to order at the drive thru. More than half of the vehicles had Washington plates. The dining room was full and people were standing in a long line that wrapped all the way around the inside of the dining room."

Kauffman wrote that a parking lot adjacent to Popeyes was barricaded, blocking the alternate access road from Mullan Avenue behind Sonic. Those craving chicken, fish, shrimp or sides parked in a vacant dirt lot on the other side of Neufeld Lane and filled a mini mall lot next door.