Work continues on freeway bridges built in 1960

COEUR d’ALENE — It's everyone's favorite season again. No, not summer — road work!

The ramp at Sherman Avenue to travel west on Interstate 90 will close on Monday to allow crews to replace the westbound bridge over Pennsylvania Avenue. The closure is expected to be in place for three months.

The eastbound bridge has been completed. Now it's time to switch, said project manager Shannon Stein.

"After looking at the angles needed to merge traffic from the Sherman on-ramp and bring them over to the other side, we decided it was safest to close it," she said in a news release.

Motorists wishing to access westbound I-90 will be detoured to 15th Street. The current detour for the closure of Pennsylvania Avenue that sends drivers to Elm Street to cross underneath the interstate will remain in place.

For drivers traveling on I-90, the two lanes of traffic will be shifted from the westbound lanes to the eastbound lanes and the newly finished bridge. This shift will happen in stages on Friday morning and Monday morning.

Spokane Valley contractor N.A. Degerstrom, Inc. began work on this $6.5 million project in March to ensure continued safe travel by replacing both bridges, which were built in 1960. Replacement of the final bridge is planned for completion in October.

Idaho Transportation Department public information officer Reed Hollinshead shared an important safety reminder for drivers and workers in construction zones. He cautioned that it is imperative to drive attentively in work zones because lanes are narrower and workers are closer to traffic, leaving no room for error.

"During the summer months we often see an uptick in deadly crashes on the roads, and much of that is due to inexperienced drivers behind the wheel and more people on the roads in general for road trips, camping, recreation, etc.," he said Friday. "Safety for our workers and for the general motoring public is our top priority, so we implore drivers to take an extra second on the roads, give a little more space to others and obey traffic signs and advisory notices — they are there for your protection!"