If you haven’t noticed, it’s construction season in North Idaho.

Whether it’s Interstate 90, neighborhoods in Coeur d’Alene or Post Falls or even the Silver Valley countryside, motorists often struggle to avoid delays, detours or complete road closures marked by orange traffic cones.

“They are a nightmare,” Motorist Alexander Hart, commenting on social media, said about local traffic and road projects. “I wish infrastructure was considered before the population expands and not as an afterthought. Or since we are a giant metropolitan area now stop reducing lanes during the day. Work at night!”

Between Kootenai and Shoshone counties alone, more than 20 roadway infrastructure projects have either just ended, are currently in the works, or are expected to start later this year. 

Among them, the Idaho Transportation Department is right now conducting up to $324 million in roadway projects on Interstate 90 alone.

IDT spokesperson Heather McDaniel said the current projects in Kootenai County focus on long-planned capacity and safety improvements. She added that readily available federal and state funds are why Interstate 90 widening, as well as interchange updates at Highway 41 and Pleasant View Road in Post Falls, “allowed us to move them into construction earlier than previously expected.”

“With the rapid growth we've seen across Kootenai County, many of these projects are focused on improving capacity, reducing congestion and making the transportation system safer before traffic volumes outgrow the existing infrastructure,” McDaniel said via email.

Aside from the interstate, Post Falls motorists must navigate the massive, two-phased Seltice Way Rehabilitation and Pipeline Project. With cost estimates of roughly $7.9 million, this infrastructure project has pushed traffic to the roadway’s south side, with one lane open in each direction. 

The north half of Seltice Way, meanwhile, is right now closed between McGuire and Chase roads. 

Post Falls Public Works Director John Beacham said the project is years in the making and that this particular roadway has “slowly been crumbling over the years.”

“We try to be really intentional with our projects. We think a lot about how they’re going to impact the public,” he said. “We know that it’s a disruption and, sometimes, there’s just no way around that. But we try to make it either as quick as a disruption as possible or as painless as possible, and those two things don’t always align.”

Next door, in Coeur d’Alene, many drivers are well aware of the constant construction on arterial streets in neighborhoods mostly north of Interstate 90. According to the city, it has so far allocated about $981,575 out of a $1.5 million budget to chip seal nearly 8 centerline miles of roadway. 

“I don’t understand why work is being done on Ramsey, Prairie, and Honeysuckle all at the same time,” local motorist Angela Gifford said on social media. “It makes it so difficult to get anywhere.”

According to Streets and Engineering Department Director Todd Feusier, the pavement condition index of these roads is far past its life, thus requiring chip and fog sealing activities. If maintained correctly, improvements will extend these roadways’ lifespan between 15-20 years.

Feusier also spoke to the big question of why many of these projects are done during the day and not in other seasons. With daytime temperatures typically hovering between 80-90 degrees, he referred to August as “the sweet spot” and that sunlight during this time better "activates the oil” amid chip sealing construction.

“Yes, there are significant delays and detours when it comes to chip seal, " he said. “The good thing about chip seal, although it’s inconvenient, it's very fast moving. So as soon as the rock or the chip goes down onto the oil, you can drive on it instantly.”

In the same spirit, McDaniel said night work can be beneficial in some situations, but it is not practical for every project. Many highway construction activities require daylight to be completed safely and accurately, while others depend on temperature and weather conditions that are not available overnight. 

Working at night also adds higher costs. 

"Night work significantly increases project costs, and Idaho law requires ITD to award projects to the lowest responsive bidder, so we have a responsibility to balance construction schedules with cost, safety, quality and the best use of taxpayer dollars," McDaniel said. 

Most drivers experience delays of roughly 10 to 20 minutes when traveling through one or two construction zones. Others face a much longer commute. 

Smelterville Mayor Tom Benson regularly travels between the Silver Valley and Post Falls. He offered a characteristically concise assessment of the road work. 

"It does impact me every day,” he said. “But it would impact me more if it wasn’t done.”

KNOW YOUR PROJECTS

Wondering what roadway projects are happening around your community? Below is a complete list of project details, including scope of work, schedules, budgets and more.

INTERSTATE 90 UPDATES

I-90/SH-41 Interchange

- The project is progressing well and remains on track for completion this fall.

- All legs of the new Single Point Urban Interchange (SPUI) are now open and functioning.

- Current work includes paving, guardrail installation and other finishing work, which will continue to require intermittent lane and ramp closures over the next few weeks.

- Estimated construction cost: $78 million.

- Funding: Governor Brad Little's Leading Idaho initiative and TECM (Transportation Expansion and Congestion Mitigation) funding.

I-90 Widening between Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene

 - This project will widen I-90 to four lanes in each direction between Post Falls and Coeur d'Alene.

- Crews are currently expanding the roadway in the median on the west end of the corridor, while work on the east end focuses on new bridges (over Prairie Trail and Atlas Road) and a large retaining wall near the Northwest Boulevard interchange.

- As an interim safety measure, westbound I-90 has been reduced to a single lane through the work zone, and the Northwest Boulevard westbound off-ramp remains closed. This traffic pattern was implemented after a significant increase in crashes caused by competing merge movements in the work zone. While congestion has increased during peak travel times, crashes and crash severity have been significantly reduced with this change.

- ITD expects the most impactful work in the CDA area to be complete by mid- to late fall, allowing traffic to return to a more typical configuration with two westbound lanes restored and the Northwest Boulevard ramps fully reopened.

- Estimated total project cost (design, right-of-way and construction): approximately $200 million-$210 million

1-90 Fourth of July Pass

- East of Coeur d'Alene, crews continue resurfacing I-90 over Fourth of July Pass while also replacing/improving the center concrete barrier.

- The new barrier includes embedded reflectors to improve visibility, particularly during nighttime and low-light driving.

- The project is progressing well and is expected to be complete by the end of the year.

- Approximate construction cost: $36 million

SH-53 Pleasant View Interchange

 - Expected to open to traffic later this summer/fall, with overall completion of the project set for spring/summer 2027.

- Will consolidate highway access from multiple adjacent side roads into a single interchange with on- and off-ramps that will make it much safer for all drivers

- This project will eliminate three at-grade railroad crossings, eliminating the risk of crashes between trains/vehicles and will also eliminate wait times for drivers since they will now go up and over the railroad

- Approximate construction cost: $30 million

- Funding: Federal Railroad Administration grant through BNSF Railway with additional contributions from the Post Falls Highway District

SH-54 Spirit Lake to Athol Reconstruction

- Reconstructing the full width of the highway between Spirit Lake and Athol

- No additional through lanes will be added; however, turn lanes/bays in key areas and wider shoulders are included in this project

- Lighting at key intersections (Ramsey Road and Clagstone Road) will help enhance visibility and increase safety for drivers

- Work was completed last week to reconstruct the south side of the roadway and traffic has recently been shifted onto this new section of road. Work is now underway to reconstruct the northern side of the roadway from approximately Ramsey Road to just west of Athol

- Work began in 2025 and is expected to be complete by the end of this year

 SH-54 Farragut to Bayview Paving

- Set to begin shortly after Labor Day, crews will mill and re-pave SH-54 from the traffic circle near Farragut State Park to the top of the hill above Bayview

- This work is not expected to require full closure of the highway, but drivers can expect lane reductions, crossovers, and the potential for delays

- ITD is suggesting the previously used detour route along Perimeter Road and Bayview Road as an alternate route for drivers who wish to avoid the work zone

- Work will occur Monday-Friday between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. (dusk/dark) and is expected to last up to two months

Cataldo River Bridges 

- Crews continue replacing the Coeur d'Alene River bridge structures near Cataldo 

- The project involves demolishing and reconstructing both bridges and was originally planned as a two-season effort. The eastbound bridge was rebuilt last year, and crews are rebuilding the westbound bridge this year. The project was originally scheduled for completion in September, but several unexpected delays may push completion into late fall or winter. 

- Approximate construction cost: $27 million 

North Idaho Bridge Repair 

- Additional work this season includes several annual bridge repair projects on I-90 in Wallace and Mullan

- The Blue Creek Bay Bridge on I-90 east of Coeur d'Alene is also included in this work

POST FALLS PROJECTS 

Seltice Way Rehabilitation and Pipeline Project

- For about six years, engineers identified that this portion of roadway needed to be rebuilt

- Construction includes installation of new sewer and reclaimed water infrastructure, stormwater improvements, roadway rehabilitation, traffic signal upgrades, and pedestrian facility enhancements

- The north half of Seltice Way between McGuire and Chase roads is closed during Phase 1, which began on June 11. Traffic has been shifted to the south side of the roadway, with one lane of travel maintained in each direction. Access to local businesses and residences will remain open throughout construction

- Phase 2, expected to end in 2027, includes additional utility, roadway, pedestrian and signal improvements that will continue as construction progresses. Specific traffic revisions and timelines for future phases will be posted on the city’s website, www.postfalls.gov, as they become available

- Approximate construction cost: up to $7.9 million

Prairie Trail Underpass 

- The project, overseen by the Post Falls Highway District, will connect the north and south sides of the Prairie Trail via a grade-separated underpass beneath Prairie Avenue

- The existing trail is 15 feet wide; this width will continue through the underpass project. The pre-cast concrete culvert will be 15 feet wide and 10 feet tall

- The project is being constructed this summer to minimize impacts on our local schools, the bus routes and to minimize impacts on the traveling public. This project was bid to include a 10-working-day closure of Prairie Avenue between N. Meyer Road and N. Fennecus Road

- Approximate construction cost: $3.1 million

COEUR d’ALENE PROJECTS

2026 Chip Seal Project

- After being paved about three years ago, at least nearly 8 centerline miles of roadway on 12 roads need chip fog sealing. This will improve the roads’ lifespan by 15-20 years. Areas include Coeur d’Alene Lake Drive, Legacy Place Subdivision, 15th Street, Pinegrove Drive, Heartland Subdivision, St. Michelle Drive, Canfield Avenue, Kathleen Avenue, Wilbur Avenue, Honeysuckle Drive, Ramsey Road and Thomas Lane

- The project began on July 29 and is expected to end Aug. 20, weather permitting

- Expect delays or closures 7 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays. Check www.cdaid.org/government/departments/streets-and-engineering/2026-chip-seal-project-notice/https://www.cdaid.org/government/departments/streets-and-engineering/2026-chip-seal-project-notice/ for regular updates

- Total budget: $ 41.5 million

- Cost so far: $981,575

ADA Ramps, Paving Projects

- With new chip sealing comes new ADA ramps. According to the streets department, contractor La Riviere will be adding 32 ADA-compliant ramps around town. The project, expected to end in early October, is part of the $1.5 million budget included for the major chip and fog sealing construction

- The city of Coeur d’Alene is also about to go out to bid for an upcoming paving project. With the chip seal past its lifetime, portions of Dalton Avenue, Howard Street and Bosanko Avenue, the project is expected to begin mid-September and end early October

Mill River Lift Station Upgrade project

- The City Wastewater Department began this project July 13 and is expected to end in November

- The Mill River Lift Station, which pumps wastewater, was installed a bit small intentionally and needs upsizing due to growth. Pipework in and around the lift station is being done, which is affecting some of the traffic

- Come next Tuesday, one lane will be open on either side of that lift station, which is located along N. Grandmill Lane in the Mill River residential development area, until November

- Budget: $1.2 million over two fiscal years

Chip sealing, rebuild projects in East Side Highway District

- Needing to do it every 7-10 years, about 15 miles of roadway were chip sealed this summer, which just ended. This included areas at Ponderosa Golf Course and Sunnyside, as well as alongside Lake Coeur d’Alene. This cost $400,000

- Four roads were also completely rebuilt in this district, including Wolf Lodge Creek, Meyers Hill Road, Alder Creek Road and Grouse Meadow Drive. The existing base was ground up, and a new asphalt surface was applied. The project, which cost about $800,000, was supported by an overall $2.88 million from the state

    Working to fix a damaged pipe at Prairie Trail in Coeur d'Alene are, from left, Rocky Peckham and Taylor Plunkett, of Ridgeline Utilities, on Friday.
  

    A "detour ahead" sign sits on a street in Coeur d'Alene on Friday.

    Taylor Plunkett, of Ridgeline Utilities, works to fix a damaged pipe at Prairie Trail in Coeur d'Alene on Friday.
  

    Rocky Peckham, of Ridgeline Utilities, works in an excavator to fix a damaged pipe at Prairie Trail in Coeur d'Alene on Friday.
  

    Traffic is reduced to two lanes instead of the regular five on W. Seltice Way between Chase Road and McGuire Road in Post Falls on Saturday. JACK DeWITT/Press