Coeur d’Alene’s general services and public works subcommittee approved a traffic signal improvement project Monday that will enhance safety and traffic flow along Ramsey Road on the city’s north end. The initiative combines a state of Idaho grant secured three years ago with a $116,000 local match to modernize signaling at multiple intersections in the area.
Scope of Improvements
The project will upgrade existing traffic signals at three Ramsey Road intersections—Dalton, Prairie, and Hanley avenues—while installing a new signal at Wilbur Avenue and Ramsey Road. All improvements will include Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance upgrades, addressing both operational efficiency and accessibility standards.
Current traffic signal synchronization problems create unnecessary delays for drivers navigating the corridor. As one official noted during the approval process, the signals “aren’t synchronized appropriately,” resulting in “backlogs and delays” that could be resolved through the upgrade.
Timeline and Project Management
Construction is anticipated to begin in fall 2026, with work potentially extending into winter or spring 2027, depending on material availability and weather conditions. The Local Highway Technical Assistance Council will manage the competitive bidding process for contractors.
City officials expressed optimism about the schedule. “The hope is to go into construction this fall, winter, maybe into the spring,” according to one project administrator, giving residents a realistic window for when disruptions may occur, as first reported by the Coeur d’Alene Press.
Context and Past Performance
This project follows successful traffic signal work in downtown Coeur d’Alene. In 2018, the city replaced 11 traffic lights on Sherman and Lakeside avenues at a cost of $92,000, a period when downtown experienced elevated crash rates. That earlier project demonstrated the city’s commitment to addressing traffic safety through signal modernization.
The Ramsey Road corridor improvements represent a continuation of that strategy, targeting a different section of the community where synchronization issues have created operational challenges.
What Comes Next
With subcommittee approval secured, the project moves forward to standard city processes. Residents and commuters using Ramsey Road should monitor for bid announcements and construction notices in the coming months. The Local Highway Technical Assistance Council’s management of the bidding process will ensure competitive pricing and qualified contractor selection before work begins.