Highway 54 delays expected near Athol next week
Bonner County Daily Bee | UPDATED 17 hours, 30 minutes AGO
Construction work will continue along Highway 54 near Athol, where drivers will soon encounter single-lane traffic controlled by temporary signals.
Photo courtesy IDAHO TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT
ATHOL — Starting next week, drivers should expect delays at two locations along Highway 54 near Athol, especially during morning and evening commute times, as temporary signals are activated just west of St. Joe Drive and at Mountain View Cemetery near Athol.
This project will fully reconstruct Highway 54 between Highway 41 and Greystone Road to restore a safe, smooth driving surface between Spirit Lake and Athol, ITD officials said. Improvements will include added turn lanes, wider shoulders, updated signage, lighting and delineators throughout the corridor.
Early construction activities, including utility relocations and tree removal, began in late 2024 to prepare for full roadway reconstruction, which is expected to be complete in late 2026.
The temporary signals will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and will allow traffic to alternate through a single open lane at each location while crews widen sections of roadway that are too narrow to safely maintain two-way traffic during construction.
The temporary signals are expected to remain in place for approximately two weeks, though schedules are subject to change based on weather and construction progress. Drivers should plan ahead and allow extra travel time, particularly during peak commuting hours. Idaho 511 will be the best source of information related to roadway impacts and delays.
Additional impacts drivers may encounter include:
• Intermittent flagging operations
• Construction vehicles entering and exiting the highway
• Work on driveway approaches, culverts, and roadway lighting
Once work on the south side of the highway is complete, traffic will be shifted onto the newly constructed lanes and restored to two-way traffic. Crews will then begin reconstruction of the north side of the highway.
The land adjacent to the highway remains closed to pedestrian and recreational traffic, including bicycles, motorbikes and ATVs, for safety.
Last year, work was completed on the west half of the corridor to reconstruct existing Highway 54 and add additional shoulder width, turn bays and lighting. This summer will mark the second, and last, season of construction, which is expected to be complete by the end of 2026. More detailed information about this project can be found online.