There are two
ways to view traffic in North Idaho. We are growing, and tourism adds road
burdens during season, especially summer. For long-time residents, the added
numbers means extra minutes on the road, especially during commute hours.
The other way of looking at the issue is comparing our travel times to
larger communities. Certainly the amount of time it takes to commute is
bearable when compared to even our neighboring cities. Plus, any old-timer
will tell you there have been arguments for better roads and systems for 50
years or more. Plans to widen Highway 95, create a byway that bypasses
Sandpoint, and pave outer roads are wants that most agree are both needed,
and on the books, soon to come to fruition.
Because of the recent downturn
in the state's coffers, many projects are in limbo. Here is the link to
all IDT projects for North Idaho:
http://itd.idaho.gov/Projects/D1/
Our future
is dictated by several factors. Our County Master Plan, the proposed bypass, the widening of Highway
95, and roads planned by the state.
The most controversial of all projects locally is the Sand Creek Byway. (State
Web Page: Sand Creek Byway) Many are opposed, including the
outspoken North Idaho Community Action Committee (NICAN).
The project has been challenged legally, and the disagreement reported in USA
Today and the Bonner Daily Bee, the Spokane Journal, and the Spokesman Review
many times. While most agree some sort of bypass is needed, a substantial
minority disagree with the placement and the environmental impact. Others feel
that bypassing the city of Sandpoint will hurt the economy greatly. However,
despite the controversy, it appears the project is finally underway.
U.S. Route 95
is a north-south United States highway. Unlike many other US highways, it has
not been the victim of decommissioning by an encroaching Interstate highway
corridor. In fact, US 95 is the only US highway to gain mileage after California
began to decommission US Highways in the 1960s, and it is the only US Highway
not to end in California after entering it.
US Highway 95 in the state of Idaho is going through a massive overhaul. In
2000, Idaho started a massive reconstruction project on Highway 95 in the north
of the state due to a large amount of accidents and fatalities. Three main
processes have started and will revamp the highway completely.
The first
section, south of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho from Fighting Creek on the Coeur d'Alene Indian Reservation to Coeur d'Alene, has since been
completed. It changed the highway from a two lane highway to a four lane highway
for approximately 10 miles.
The second section, from Fighting Creek to Lake Creek on the Coeur d'Alene
Indian Reservation, is currently under progress and will affect a 7 mile stretch
of the highway. The project is expected to be completed in mid-2006.
The last section, from Lake Creek to Worley, Idaho, is expected to start
mid-to-late 2006 and is not expected to be completed until late 2007 or early
2008. This section is significant due to it being entirely on the Coeur d'Alene
Indian Reservation. The "new" highway will bypass the Coeur d'Alene Casino, the largest business on the Reservation,
with the old highway becoming an alternate route that will connect the highway
to the casino and the more remote regions of the reservation.
When this
20 mile stretch of highway is completed, the length of the highway will have
been cut down by about 20 miles.
Many more reconstruction projects are being undertaken in the northern part of
the state including ones between Plummer, Idaho and Moscow, Idaho, between
Moscow, Idaho and Lewiston, Idaho, and between Lewiston, Idaho and Riggins,
Idaho.
Even once the four-lane Byway is
finished, the Sandpoint Long Bridge will still only be two lanes.
Highway 200 to Hope, Idaho is part of the beautiful International Selkirk Loop
and is a county maintained road. However, it is not always plowed until much
later than roads closer to Sandpoint.
Visualization of the Sand Creek Byway
Highway 95 Proposal
Two-mile-long Walking and Biking Bridge across Lake Pend Oreille
Sandpoint-Dover Community Walking & Bike Trail
The Author's Opinion on the State of Roads
in and around Sandpoint, ID
Oh,
how often does one hear that we sad North Idahoans are the poor stepchildren of
the state. Drive around Boise or some of the other Republican strongholds to the
south and it quickly becomes clear: roads are better there than here. It has
been a long time since Kermit Kiebert was Director of Transportation. At least
then we had an ally in the capital. Is it just that North Idaho doesn't have the
political pull to get the road improvements? Partly yes, but the fact is, we
simply don't have the population to warrant the kinds of projects the more
populated areas needed. To be honest, the Sand Creek Byway has been reported to
be the most expensive road project in state history, combined with the widening
of Highway 95 or not. Any way you look at it, we don't get the road improvements
larger populated areas garner. Just 45 minutes to the south of us, Coeur d'Alene
has much better roads than Sandpoint. Only twenty years ago, CdA had a
population not much more than we have now, but with growth came improvements.
We
have seen recent improvements that have made life easier in the farther reaches
of North Idaho. Four years ago, Highway 95 was repaved, and Highway 2 before
that. Recently, Highway 2 where it leaves Pine Street behind was paved all the
way to Dover, and who can forget the resurfacing of the Long Bridge. We are
finding more and more developments with paved roads, and because of the largesse
of Ralph Sletager, the old town of Dover was repaved during the summer of 2008.
The bridge over the railroad at Dover was shored up, and other road
improvements, such as the paving of Dusty Lane, and street signage in Boundary
County have made driving safer and easier.
The
Sand Creek Byway project is underway finally, after half a century of
in-fighting. While those against are continuing with legal maneuvers, the fact
will soon come to fruition. While many have touted the better idea of digging a
tunnel, or another route altogether, one issue never seemed to be addressed.
Even if you move the bypass, the railroad eyesore is still right where the byway
would be built. Some pundits have made the point that Seattle did the same thing
decades ago when they virtually ruined their waterfront. At the time, Seattle's
waterfront was primarily used for shipping and warehouses, and seemed of little
aesthetic or monetary value. Now, where a beautiful view could be, there is a
major highway.
We
could move the byway, but even though the railroads don't wield the kind of
power as in yesteryear, they have owned this land since before there were towns
in North Idaho. The cost to move the railroad is also prohibitive, and they have
never responded well to any form of relocating the rails. If you can't move the
railroad, then the land is useless by most standards. It is the obvious choice
for a transportation route.
Others have lamented about the loss of habitat in and around Sand Creek. This
area is surrounded by the city, and mostly by buildings. It is very likely that
most who are against putting the byway where it is going have not walked the
peninsula between Sand Creek and Lake Pend Oreille. It is startlingly beautiful.
I walk my dog there dozens of times a year. The railroads have roads and rail
lines there, but nearer the water, the land and views are serene. The byway will
be placed away from these serene areas, and the Ross Hall Family are donating a
portion of this beautiful place as a nature area for use by the town. When the
byway goes in, the original plans were to create a park-like setting, though
budget constraints indicate this will be put aside.
One
can still walk the area, so close to town, yet seeming to be out in the middle
of nature. I do understand the desire to keep it the way it is. When the byway
becomes fact, a major road will be a hundred yards away.
Still, where else could it have gone. Either home owners would have to be
displaced with another route, or the tunnel would emit fumes that no device can
hide. I lived next to two major tunnels. Even with state-of-the-art air
purifiers, the smell of diesel wafted over a many block area. It never goes
away.
Certainly had a tunnel been chosen, the impact studies and many years of
redesigning the system would mean another decade (or two) delay. Given the
length and vicious reluctance for the current design, there seems little doubt
another group, or perhaps the same ones, would oppose this direction, too.
For
the time being, the byway is going forward, major roads have been repaved, and
newer and better roads are going in. There is some attention being paid to
international standards, safety, and concern for the environment. Could things
be better? Always.
Our future
is dictated by several factors. Our
Oh,
how often does one hear that we sad North Idahoans are the poor stepchildren of
the state. Drive around Boise or some of the other Republican strongholds to the
south and it quickly becomes clear: roads are better there than here. It has
been a long time since Kermit Kiebert was Director of Transportation. At least
then we had an ally in the capital. Is it just that North Idaho doesn't have the
political pull to get the road improvements? Partly yes, but the fact is, we
simply don't have the population to warrant the kinds of projects the more
populated areas needed. To be honest, the Sand Creek Byway has been reported to
be the most expensive road project in state history, combined with the widening
of Highway 95 or not. Any way you look at it, we don't get the road improvements
larger populated areas garner. Just 45 minutes to the south of us, Coeur d'Alene
has much better roads than Sandpoint. Only twenty years ago, CdA had a
population not much more than we have now, but with growth came improvements.
