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Thank you again to everyone who attended the US-95 Corridor Safety Workshop in January and has remained engaged in ongoing safety initiatives that improve the corridor.
During that meeting, we committed to maintaining regular communication with the community as safety improvements, maintenance activities, education efforts and enforcement operations continue across the region.
As we move into the busy summer travel season, the Idaho Transportation Department, Idaho State Police, and our Office of Highway Safety partners wanted to share several recent updates and upcoming activities related to roadway safety in Boundary and Bonner counties.
Roadway Maintenance and Visibility Improvements
ITD crews are concentrating efforts through spring and summer on tree and vegetation removal along some of the regions mountainous highways including SH-57, SH-200, and US-95. This works enhances safety in a number of ways by improving sight distances, increasing a driver's ability to spot wildlife on the shoulders, and allows sun penetration to melt snow and ice on the roadway during winter.
This effort will continue through until fall, so drivers should anticipate short-term work zones throughout the corridor as crews address additional sections of the corridor.
In May ITD maintenance crews completed ditching work along US-95 near Sagle and also on US-2 near Oldtown to help improve drainage and roadway conditions in the corridor.
Further north on US-2 crews also recently replaced delineators between the Three Mile Junction and Moyie Bridge to improve nighttime visibility and roadway reflectivity for drivers traveling through the area.
In recent weeks, radar speed-feedback signs were installed along US-95 near McArthur Lake to raise awareness for drivers of their speeds and encourage safer travels.
Routine maintenance activities like these are part of ongoing efforts to enhance roadway safety and address normal wear over time. Community feedback also plays an important role in helping crews identify locations where visibility concerns may be developing, particularly during nighttime driving conditions.
In the coming weeks, ITD expects annual highway striping operations to get underway to repaint lines and markings for enhanced visibility. This is a district-wide initiative that will take place over several weeks, and along several highways, as our painting crew works across the Panhandle. Community members can expect information to be released on ITD's website, social media, and through local media partners detailing out the routes and tentative schedule for this work. As our crews work through your local community, drivers can expect short delays and reduced speeds as they encounter the mobile work zone. It will be important for drivers to pay attention to posted signs and follow crew instructions for the safety of our team and to avoid paint damage to vehicles.
Idaho 511 remains the best resource for drivers to stay informed about all roadwork, projects and incidents that may impact their day-to-day travel.
Focused Enforcement Efforts Continue Throughout the Corridor
In late April, ISP conducted a targeted enforcement emphasis along US-95 between Colburn Culver Road and Bonners Ferry. Over a six-hour period, troopers made 16 enforcement contacts, issuing several citations and warnings with a focus on aggressive driving behaviors.
ISP has also conducted multiple additional enforcement emphasis patrols throughout Bonner and Boundary counties over the past two months, including targeted operations during both the Mudder’s Day Mud Bog event in Moyie Springs, the Lost in the 50’s weekend in Sandpoint and regionally for Memorial Day weekend.
During the Mudder’s Day impaired driving enforcement emphasis, troopers conducted dozens of traffic stops, issued warnings and citations, investigated impaired driving incidents and assisted motorists on highways surrounding this local annual event in Moyie Springs. Enforcement activity included arrests for DUI and drug-impaired driving, as well as contacts related to reckless driving and other traffic offenses.
Law enforcement visibility itself is an important part of these operations. Information about the increased patrol presence quickly circulated within local social media groups during the event weekend; something ISP views as a positive outcome. These enforcement efforts are intended not only to address dangerous driving behaviors, but also to encourage safer decisions before problems occur.
ISP also shared that an additional trooper will be assigned to the Sandpoint area later this summer following completion of the police academy and field training program.
Targeted patrols and enforcement emphasis operations will continue throughout the summer travel season in areas identified through crash history, traffic trends and community feedback.
Education and Outreach Efforts Expanding
Several additional safety education and outreach initiatives are also underway in the region, sponsored through the Idaho Office of Highway Safety and local partners.
A mock DUI event was held in late May at Sandpoint High School to help educate students about the real-world impacts and consequences of impaired driving.
The Office of Highway Safety is also working with the Alliance for Highway Safety to identify schools in the area for future “Choices Matter” workshops focused on safe driving behaviors and decision-making. Recently, the program visited Bonners Ferry High School in February. The presentation included a powerful testimony from Ryan Brady, who shared his firsthand experience with a speeding-related crash during his teenage years that resulted in significant injuries and long-term effects. His message emphasized how one decision behind the wheel can create lifelong consequences and impact not only the driver, but families and entire communities.
In addition, discussions with the State Coordinator are underway to establish local Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) chapters in the area to help encourage peer-to-peer traffic safety education among students. OHS is specifically interested in finding someone to volunteer as a Chapter Lead who is currently homeschooled to represent that group of regional students and encourage opportunities for participation. If you, or a student you know, may be interested in this role, please reach out to OHS Program Manager Josephine Middleton at Josephine.middleton@itd.idaho.gov for more information.
The Office of Highway Safety is also coordinating with media partners on future geotargeted messaging campaigns for social media focused on aggressive driving awareness throughout the corridor through summer.
Additionally, a next round of annual highway safety grant funding and awards for fiscal year 2027 is currently being developed in partnership with Bonners Ferry Police Department to support continued traffic safety enforcement efforts in the area.
What’s Happening to the South?
While these updates fall slightly south of the area of focus of the corridor safety workshop, we thought this information might be relevant for regional drivers who commute to Sandpoint, or further south, for work, recreation and more.
Left Turns to be Eliminated from Lakeshore Drive onto US-95
ITD recently implemented operational changes at the US-95 and Lakeshore Drive intersection aimed at improving safety and reducing the potential for serious crashes. All drivers exiting Lakeshore Drive onto US-95 are now required to use the J-turn configuration and left turns directly from Lakeshore Drive onto US-95 have been prohibited.
Additional information about this change is available online.
Long Bridge Pedestrian Bridge Access Restrictions
Users of the Long Bridge pedestrian pathway should be aware of temporary access restrictions and closures associated with upcoming bridge evaluation and repair activities. We appreciate the public’s patience as crews work to maintain the long-term safety and reliability of the structure. Full details about the pedestrian bridge and access restrictions can be found here.
During this closure, ITD has partnered with the Selkirks Pend Oreille Transit Authority, or SPOT, to provide free shuttle service across the Long Bridge for pedestrians and cyclists 7 days per week. For more information, routes and schedules visit spotbus.org.
FUNDING: ITIP Public Comment Period Opens July 1
The Idaho Transportation Department will open the public comment period for the draft Idaho Transportation Investment Program, or ITIP, from July 1-31, 2026.
The ITIP outlines transportation projects proposed over the next seven years based on available funding. Members of the community are encouraged to review the draft program to see what projects are currently funded, where projects are in the development process, and how transportation investments are being prioritized across the state.
Whether you're interested in projects already included in the draft ITIP or believe there are transportation needs that deserve greater attention, this is an opportunity to share your perspective. Public feedback, along with technical data and input from local officials, helps inform the final program before it is presented to the Idaho Transportation Board for approval in September.
Read more about the draft ITIP and this year's funding priorities in ITD's most recent press release.
From July 1-31, 2026 Comments can be:
Thank You
As always, we appreciate the community’s continued partnership and feedback as agencies work together to improve safety along the US-95 corridor. The concerns and observations shared by residents, business owners, emergency responders and roadway users continue to help inform ongoing coordination efforts between ITD, ISP and local partners.
We will continue providing updates as additional maintenance activities, enforcement efforts, educational initiatives and safety improvements continue into the future.
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