The Idaho Transportation Department is preparing to submit its final environmental impact statement for the planned conversion of 31 miles of U.S. 95 to a four-lane divided highway.

Once the Federal Highway Administration approves the EIS, the way will be clear for the state to start acquiring the necessary rights of way along the first two sections approved for design and construction.

Ultimately, ITD will spend about $342 million on the project between Coeur d’Alene and Sandpoint beginning with the first two sections, which are in a 12.7-mile stretch of road near Silverwood Theme Park at the north end of Kootenai County. U.S. 95 is the primary north-south corridor for the state, and has seen increased international commercial traffic since the enactment of NAFTA in 1994.

A contract for design of the first section of the planned 31-mile highway conversion has been awarded to Keller Associates Inc. of Meridian, Idaho, and the southern part of the 6.7-mile Chilco section could go out for construction bids next summer. The second part of the Chilco section, from Ohio Match Road north, and the 6-mile Athol section are anticipated to get under way in 2009, the Spokane Journal reported.

Source: Idaho Business Review