I-90 exit in Mullan closed through August
Shoshone News-Press | UPDATED 2 days, 8 hours AGO
An aerial view shows Interstate 90 and the Exit 67 interchange in Mullan near Mill Road, which will be used for a detour as work in completed on the bridge near Exit 68.
Courtesy of ITD
MULLAN — Interstate 90 travelers heading east will need to plan a detour through August as bridge maintenance work closes the Exit 68 off-ramp beginning tomorrow.
As part of the Idaho Transportation Department’s annual bridge maintenance efforts, crews will close the eastbound off-ramp from Interstate 90 at Exit 68 to Mullan beginning tomorrow. The closure is expected to remain in place through August while crews perform maintenance on the I-90 bridges near the Mullan interchange.
“Later this summer, drivers can expect additional traffic changes as bridge work continues near Mullan,” said ITD Public Information Officer Heather McDaniel in a press release. “Both directions of traffic will temporarily share one side of I-90 while crews work on bridges on the opposite side.”
Drivers traveling eastbound on I-90 will be directed to use Exit 67 at Mill Road, where detour signs will guide motorists through a residential area before getting back onto I-90.
Traffic will then be shifted to the other side of the interstate so work can be completed on the remaining bridges.
Each year, the Idaho Transportation Department carries out a bridge repair program focused on maintaining and preserving the nearly 300 bridges that support the state’s highway system across North Idaho. These structures range from large water crossings and interstate overpasses to pedestrian bridges and shorter-span structures, such as large culverts.
Bridge repair projects can include replacing bridge joints, paving, sealing bridge decks, painting and making structural repairs to help preserve bridges and extend their service life. These repairs address normal wear and aging that occur over time as bridges are exposed to traffic, weather and water year-round.
Some repairs also take place below the bridge deck, including work on foundations and supports exposed to water and changing conditions. Locations and the scope of repairs vary each year based on the condition and needs of individual structures.
The project falls under ITD’s Long Duration Workzone Classification, meaning work will take place primarily during daylight hours and pause during major summer holidays, including the Fourth of July and Labor Day weekends.
Drivers should expect traffic shifts, lane reductions, reduced speed limits and potential detours at on- and off-ramps throughout the duration of the project. Intermittent on- and off-ramps near these bridges may also be affected, requiring detours. Digital message signs will be posted in advance of closures with designated detour routes.
Another ITD bridge maintenance project near Wallace is expected to begin in the coming weeks.
Drivers are encouraged to slow down, use caution through the work zone and check Idaho 511 for updates on traffic impacts.