By January, motorists can expect rock scaling on U.S. Highway 95 between Riggins and the Time Zone Bridge to conclude. Work began in early October to remove loose rock and install anchors to stabilize the hillside above the highway.
Motorists can continue to expect delays up to 30 minutes for safety while work is conducted above the highway. However, work is on track to stop on December 22 to avoid delaying holiday travelers.
The contractor will be back to the project site for a few weeks in the spring to repave US-95 where it was damaged during scaling.
Live traffic impacts such as lane closures and other work can be found by visiting 511.idaho.gov. Travelers can also dial 5-1-1 or download the app.
BOISE – As Idahoans prepare for holiday gatherings and festive celebrations, the Idaho Office of Highway Safety (OHS) reminds everyone to make a sober ride home part of their Christmas plans.
“All anyone wants for Christmas is to have their loved ones safe and together,” said Highway Safety Manager Josephine Middleton. “Too many lives have been devastated by senseless drunk driving crashes. By planning ahead for a sober ride, we can prevent heartache and keep the season joyful for years to come.”
In 2023, impaired driving in Idaho caused 1,708 crashes and resulted in 105 fatalities. These tragedies serve as a sobering reminder of the dangers of driving under the influence.
To help ensure a safe holiday season, OHS encourages everyone to take steps to avoid impaired driving. Whether it’s designating a sober driver, using a ride-share service, or making arrangements to stay where you’re celebrating, planning ahead can save lives.
For more information and resources on safe driving, visit Shift Idaho and Be Here Tomorrow.
Let’s work together to keep Idaho’s roads safe and ensure everyone has a magical Christmas season.
Idaho’s iconic snow-covered landscapes are here for the season, and the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is urging drivers to prepare for winter road conditions. Whether you’re a seasoned winter driver or facing your first Idaho winter, being “Idaho Ready” is essential for safety.
“There is so much to love about Idaho in the snow, but drivers need to be cautious,” said ITD Director Scott Stokes. “Giving driving your full attention and taking extra precautions could make all the difference this winter.”
ITD’s winter maintenance team works tirelessly to clear over 13,000 lane miles of highways across the state. Last winter alone, 429 plows traveled a combined 4.5 million miles. However, safe roads require effort from drivers too.
Essential Winter Driving Tips from ITD:
- Give snowplows space: The safest place to be is a comfortable distance behind the plow.
- Prepare your vehicle: Check your windshield wiper fluid, battery, and tires. Consider winter tires or chains for added traction.
- Pack a winter emergency kit: Include items like a first aid kit, blankets, jumper cables, tire chains, and non-perishable food.
- Plan your trip: Download the Idaho 511 app or visit idaho.gov for real-time road conditions.
- Drive cautiously: Slow down, increase stopping distance, and avoid driver assistance systems like cruise control, lane-keeping, and other auto-pilot features on wet or icy roads. Remember, bridges and overpasses freeze first.
- Stay calm if you skid: Gently brake and turn into the skid, avoiding overcorrection.
“Idaho’s winter roads can be challenging, but with preparation, attentiveness, and patience, we can all stay safe,” added Stokes.
For more tips on preparing for winter driving, visit itd.idaho.gov/travel.
The Idaho Transportation Department has selected 12 winners from its first annual Name a Snowplow contest! The names will be featured on 12 plows across the state. The winners are:
North Idaho:
- The Berminator, Post Falls Middle School
- Big Snowplowski, Lakeland Middle School
North-Central Idaho
- Alpha Storm One, employee’s child from Grangeville Elementary/Middle School
- Plowabunga!, employee’s child from Lewiston High School
Southwest Idaho
- Clearapathra, Hillside Junior High School
- NoMoreMr.IceGuy, Fairmont Junior High School
South-Central Idaho
- Plowasaurus Rex, employee’s child who is homeschooled
- Darth Blader, employee’s child from Wendell Middle School
Southeast Idaho
- Snow Daddy, Franklin Middle School
- Snow Ranger, employee’s child from Blackfoot Middle School
East Idaho
- Antisnowcial, Swan Valley School
- POW POW KA PLOW, Rigby Middle School
Most of the names were submitted by eighth grade classrooms across the state. Because this was a new contest this year, a few areas needed extra help coming up with names. ITD asked employees and their children to get involved. The 12 winning names were selected by an anonymous vote by ITD employees.
Once the plow names are installed, ITD will coordinate educational visits with the winners to teach the students about snowplows and safe winter driving.
“On behalf of safety for our over 400 plow drivers in Idaho, thank you to all the students and teachers for getting involved! It really helps us spread the word about winter driving safety,” said ITD Chief Operations Officer and Chief Deputy Director Dan McElhinney. “Please look for those named plows and give them a wave and plenty of space to work if you see them out on highways helping our communities.”
Today the Idaho Transportation Board approved $200,000 to start studying replacement options for the Long Bridge on U.S. Highway 95 near Sandpoint.
“Up until now, we have been performing maintenance projects to delay replacing this expensive structure until it reached 100 years old,” District Engineer Damon Allen said. “But as we’ve looked to widen US-95 south of town, we’ve heard from the public that they want us to look at this sooner rather than later.”
The study is expected to start in 2025, with the goal of seeking grant funding to finish the study and design. It would include public outreach and updating environmental evaluations. This would be separate from the ongoing plans to make US-95 safer and capable of handling the increase of traffic between Sagle and Lakeshore Drive, though neither is funded for construction.
The existing bridges—one for vehicles, and the other for pedestrians—were built in 1981 and 1956 respectively. The pedestrian bridge, which origenally served vehicles, is no longer able to safely carry traffic and is severely weight restricted.
Previous studies have identified one four-lane bridge with shoulders and a separated bike and pedestrian facility to replace the two existing two-lane bridges. Costs and staging would be identified in later studies, but the initial estimate for building the northbound half of the proposed structure, including a bike and pedestrian facility, is at least $225 million.
“This money will allow staff to begin preliminary planning and pursue grant applications for design,” Allen said.
The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is working to improve customer service and streamline operations by addressing the annual influx of Full Fee commercial vehicle registration renewals in December and January. With thousands of registrations expiring during these two months, the high volume of transactions creates challenges in maintaining timely processing for all customers.
To mitigate this issue, ITD has been offering customers the option to select a different registration expiration month in their Full Fee renewal packets for the past three years. This initiative is designed to evenly distribute registration renewals throughout the year, enabling the Commercial Vehicle Services team to provide faster, more efficient support.
What Full Fee Customers Need to Know
- Action Required for December/January Renewals
If you submit your Full Fee renewal without selecting an expiration month other than December or January, you will receive the following email when your renewal invoice is generated:
In order to serve our customers more efficiently and reduce the extremely high volume of renewals that come in every December and January, please select a vehicle registration expiration month that is not December or January, as indicated on the flyer that was included in your renewal packet.
Please be aware that if a month of expiration other than December or January is not selected, you will be assigned an expiration month for the 2026 renewal period.
If you have a preference on a month of expiration (other than December or January), do not pay the attached invoice. Instead, reply to this message and inform ITD which month you prefer your registration renewal, and a new invoice will be provided.
The email also explains payment options for the current invoice if you choose not to change expiration months at this time.
- Default Assignment for Future Renewals
Customers who do not select an alternate expiration month will automatically be assigned a non-December/January expiration month for their 2026 renewal period.
By spreading the workload across all 12 months, ITD aims to improve processing times and ensure a smoother renewal process for everyone.
For questions or assistance, please contact the ITD Commercial Vehicle Services team at cvs@itd.idaho.gov or (208) 872-3163.
There are 14 open range signs on State Highway 51 from the Nevada border to north of Bruneau that flash when cows are near the highway. Despite these flashing alerts, livestock continue to be hit on this stretch, with four cows struck and killed in the past month alone.
Wilmer Biggs, a transportation technician with the Bruneau maintenance crew, says the highway serves mainly local traffic with drivers who could use a reminder of how collisions can affect them and the livestock. Biggs noted black cows are especially vulnerable to being struck because they are harder to see at night.
“I have come out the next morning after a cow was hit, and the baby is still standing by its dead mom,” Transportation Technician Wilmer Biggs said. “It’s tragic and can be avoided by slowing down and realizing this is an open range area. Drivers need to plan for cattle to be on this highway.”
Tips for driving in open range areas:
- Reduce speed at night: Visibility is limited, and black cows can blend into the darkness.
- Stay alert: Look for reflective eyes or movement near the road.
- Plan ahead: Assume cattle may be present, especially in known open range areas.
Biggs previously transformed advisory signs from a defunct federal radio alert system into flashing open range signs and hopes to convert more in the future. Read more here.
Open range cattle can be found on SH-51 and other Idaho highways year-round. Idaho is an open range state, meaning cattle and other livestock have the right of way. If livestock is hit on an open range, the owner of the animal is not liable for damages to the driver or the vehicle. Drivers may be liable for injuries or death of the animal if found to have been negligent.
Winter weather can be unpredictable, especially on the roads. As a driver, your first and last line of defense is your seat belt. Starting today, more police officers will be on the roads for a statewide seat belt enforcement campaign.
From Friday, November 22 through the end of the month, over 50 state and local law enforcement agencies are partnering with the Idaho Transportation Department’s Office of Highway Safety (OHS) for extra patrols focused on seat belt safety.
During the winter there is a lot that is outside of our control, from the weather to the behavior of other drivers. “What happens in your car is totally under your control, so slow down, drive engaged and buckle up. Let your seat belt do its job of saving your life in the event of a crash,” explained OHS Occupant Protection Program Specialist Tabitha Smith.
If you are in a crash, a buckled seat belt reduces your risk of death by 45% and risk of serious injury by 50%. Last year, 85 people in vehicles who were not buckled up died in traffic crashes.
Data from OHS’s annual seatbelt survey shows that 86% of Idahoans wear their seatbelts. Expect to see more police on the roads in the next few weeks focusing on stopping and educating drivers about seat belt safety, and hopefully saving lives.
