The Idaho Transportation Department began preliminary work this week on a $28 million bridge replacement project on Highway 95 north of Moscow that will create periodic traffic delays for motorists traveling between Kootenai County and the Lewiston-Clarkston valley for the next two years. The project replaces two structurally deficient bridges over the Palouse River and a Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway line that have been on ITD’s critical infrastructure list since 2019.
Highway 95 is the primary north-south route connecting Kootenai County communities to the University of Idaho in Moscow, the Port of Lewiston, and communities throughout the Lewis-Clark Valley. Thousands of Kootenai County residents use the highway annually for business travel, university visits, recreational trips to Hells Canyon, and connections to Highway 12.
Construction Timeline and Traffic Impacts
The project will proceed in phases, with the first bridge (over the Palouse River) scheduled for demolition and replacement from April through November 2026, followed by the railroad overpass from March through October 2027. During each phase, traffic on Highway 95 will be reduced to one lane controlled by flaggers or temporary traffic signals, creating potential delays of 10-20 minutes during peak travel times.
ITD District 2 Engineer Mike Carpenter said the department considered building temporary bypass routes but determined that the terrain and adjacent farmland made detours impractical. “We’ve designed the traffic control plan to minimize delays while keeping the highway open throughout construction,” Carpenter said. “Motorists should plan for some extra travel time, particularly on weekends and holidays when recreational traffic is heaviest.”
Why the Bridges Need Replacement
Both bridges were built in the 1960s and have exceeded their designed service life. Annual inspections have documented progressive deterioration in the concrete deck, steel girders, and support piers that cannot be adequately addressed through routine maintenance. The Palouse River bridge received a sufficiency rating of 38 out of 100 in its most recent federal inspection — well below the 50-point threshold that triggers priority replacement consideration.
The new bridges will be built to modern seismic standards, feature wider lanes and shoulders to improve safety, and are designed for a 75-year service life. The design also raises the bridge profiles to reduce the risk of flooding during high-water events on the Palouse River.
Funding
The $28 million project is funded entirely through federal highway bridge program funds and state highway distribution revenue. No local taxes or assessments are involved. The project will generate approximately 120 construction jobs during the two-year building period.
What Comes Next
ITD will host a public information meeting on March 28 at the Latah County Fairgrounds in Moscow to present the construction plan and answer questions. Real-time traffic updates will be available through ITD’s 511 system and the project website at itd.idaho.gov/hwy95bridges. Motorists can sign up for email alerts about lane closures and construction schedules on the project website.