The Idaho Transportation Department has construction projects in process or around the corner for the Rathdrum corridor.

ITD public information officer Heather McDaniel said the project on State Highway 53 through downtown Rathdrum is essentially complete, although it may need to be revisited in the spring for asphalt testing.

    

Any work done in the spring will be minimal to reduce impact to traffic. Instead, ITD will be turning its attention to a project on SH-53 in the near future.

"We’re excited to share that this year, additional funding was identified which will allow us to move forward with plans to add a northbound right turn lane on SH-53 at SH-41," McDaniel shared. 

ITD will be adding an additional northbound through lane, while maintaining a dedicated right turn bay as well. This should allow more vehicles northbound and reduce the number of vehicles queueing to turn east, potentially alleviating congestion at the intersection.

When the weather gets warmer, drivers on SH-53 may experience traffic impacts as one lane of traffic in each direction will be predominantly maintained on SH-53.

Pleasant View Road north of Prairie Avenue to SH-53 will be closed starting in spring, with a detour along Prairie Avenue, and drivers attempting to make left turns from Beck Road onto Prairie Avenue and from Prairie Avenue onto Beck Road will be restricted.

Access to Hollister Hills and Hauser roads from SH-53 will also occasionally be impacted as crews work. 

The total cost for corridor improvements is more than $66 million.

Construction costs and project status:

SH-53 Bruss to Hauser to Bruss at $9 million, completed

SH-53 through Rathdrum at $6 million, under construction

Pleasant View Interchange at $30 million, under construction

SH-53 Bruss to Latah at $10.8 million, planning and design phase

WA state line to Hauser at $10.5 million, planning and design phase

Info: www.itd.idaho.gov