A bridge that will carry U.S. 95 traffic over Appleway Avenue is a done deal, Idaho Transportation Department officials said Monday. 

Joey Sprague, ITD project manager, said they heard many concerns about the “grade separation” plans for U.S. 95 and Appleway at a March 5 open house.

Since ITD studied the question, “Do we really need a bridge over Appleway?” 

“We had to answer the question, and the answer is yes,” Sprague said during a workshop with the Coeur d’Alene City Council in the Public Library Community Room.

Sprague said ITD must look at moving traffic efficiently through the busy interchange. 

“The intersection fails in the next five years,” Sprague said, adding that a major makeover is necessary. 

“We for sure need a bridge over Appleway,” he said. 

The ITD has scheduled an open house to present the latest plans for the Interstate 90 and U.S. 95 interchange project from 4 to 7 p.m. Nov. 18 at the Best Western Plus Coeur d’Alene Inn.    

The goal of the proposed design is to expand the interchange, enhance safety and improve mobility to support future traffic volumes, which are expected to double by 2045, according to ITD. Studies to improve the area began in 2021 and design phases got underway last year. 

Intersection improvements are planned on U.S. 95 from Emma Avenue to Neider Avenue; Fourth Street, at the westbound I-90 ramps and Appleway/Best Avenue; Northwest Boulevard, at the westbound I-90 ramps and Appleway Avenue; Bicycle and pedestrian improvements along I-90 and U.S. 95.

Interchange ramp improvements are called for at Fourth Street; I-90 widening from U.S. 95 to Fourth Street; and U.S. 95 widening from Emma Avenue to Bosanko Avenue.

The project cost is pegged at about $120 million, with $50 million of that for the interchange. According to ITD, the I-90, U.S. 95 Interchange design is being funded with Transportation Expansion and Congestion Mitigation funds as part of Gov. Brad Little’s Leading Idaho initiative.  

The bridge over Appleway Avenue will eliminate access to it from U.S. 95, which some fear will negatively impact Appleway businesses. 

To address those concerns, ITD is proposing routes to provide “quick connectivity” back to Appleway by way of Haycraft Avenue and Fruitland Lane to the east. To the west, still on Haycraft, it could punch a road through the parking lot that runs along Union Gospel Mission property and next to the Tomato Street restaurant. Or it could send traffic all the way to Government Way.

Traffic lights would be necessary at Haycraft Avenue at both U.S. 95 and Government Way.

"In the peak hours, there’s going to be quite a bit of traffic going through there,” Sprague said. 

The west route would require some “taking,” or buying, of property at Haycraft and Fruitland to create a larger intersection to handle the increased traffic. 

Sprague said they are working with one corner property owner about buying the land at fair market value. 

“If they refuse?” Coeur d'Alene City Councilman Dan Gookin asked.

“Eminent domain,” Councilman Dan English said.

“Let him say it,” Gookin responded.

Erica Bowen, ITD engineering manager, said ITD can’t condemn parcels on its own for local road improvements. She said a cooperative agreement would be needed with the city, and they would want to hear from the public, as well. ITD plans to reach out to the Haycraft/Fruitland neighborhood for feedback.

Bowen said ITD has worked to minimize right-of-way takes.

“What makes the most sense for the city because it’s a local road?" she asked.

City Engineer Chris Bosley said the city is hesitant to send drivers from U.S. 95 all the way down Haycraft to Government. He said signal lights at Haycraft and Government Way would be “problematic for us.” 

Punching a street through the parking lots between Haycraft and Appleway seemed a better solution.

“We know people are driving through that parking lot today all the time," Bosley said. "That's why all those speed bumps are there. If we don’t formalize something there, it’s going to continue to happen."

Gookin brought the conversation back to the bridge.

“As far as the bridge over Appleway, that’s not changing?" he said.

“That’s not changing,” Bowen said.

“Nothing we can do. We can complain about it,” Gookin said. 

Bowen said their analysis found that if right turns were allowed off U.S. 95 to Appleway, it would back up traffic. 

“The department can't have traffic backing up down the ramp in either eastbound or westbound and onto Interstate 90, because now we’re talking about high-speed crashes,” she said. 

The bridge is the only option.

“We're going to have to move forward with that," Bowen said.

    Vehicles travel on the parking lot between Appleway and Haycraft avenues on Monday. ITD is considering punching a road through the parking lot.