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I-90 and US-95 Interchange Expansion Made Possible by New Funding

Press Release from Idaho Transportation Department

COEUR d’ALENE, Idaho — #arlier this month, the Idaho Transportation Board accepted staff recommendations on priority corridors across Idaho using TECM funds to address congestion, including the Interstate 90 in Coeur d’Alene. Since Transportation Expansion and Congestion Mitigation funds were first used by the department for bonding and advancing major projects in 2022, ITD has delivered timely construction of expansion projects across the state. Today’s actions are a continuation of that.  

Funding came from House Bill 25, which was passed by the Idaho Legislature earlier this year. The legislation provides an additional $20 million a year to the Transportation Expansion and Congestion Mitigation fund for the next three years and allows the department to invest an extra $1 billion in the Idaho transportation system. 

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With this new funding, the I-90 and US-95 Interchange has been recommended for further design and construction. This project will add capacity to support future traffic volumes, which are expected to double by 2045, and enhance safety by eliminating off-ramp queues backing up on to the interstate. Prior to House Bill 25, no funding was available for construction; now it could be possible as early as 2027.  

With this project now included in the draft Idaho Transportation Investment Program (ITIP), the public will have the opportunity to give feedback on this project and the department’s full list of planned projects from 2026-2032 during the annual comment period in July. Then the draft ITIP will be presented to the board for approval in September.  

The board’s action reflects continued investment targeting congestion and capacity in major corridors that were previously funded by TECM bonds as authorized by the Idaho Legislature. In North Idaho, TECM funds allowed construction of the I-90 and State Highway 41 Interchange to begin in 2022, a year earlier than planned. It will also allow the expansion of I-90 to four lanes in both directions between SH-41 and US-95 to begin this summer.  

This project and others were identified because they are existing high-priority corridor needs that will improve traffic flow and increase safety.

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