I-90 westbound on-ramp from Northwest Boulevard to close Sept. 14

COEUR d'ALENE - The Idaho Transportation Department will close the Interstate 90 westbound on-ramp from Northwest Boulevard beginning Sept. 14 for approximately two weeks as part of the ongoing I-90 expansion project between Coeur d'Alene and Post Falls.

During the closure, crews will be working on the underground drainage system and complete final paving of the ramp in one effort, avoiding a previously planned second closure later this fall.

The ramp will remain closed 24 hours a day during this time. As with all roadway closures, a single designated detour is assigned to provide clear guidance for drivers and typically uses the nearest practical route that can safely accommodate diverted traffic. For this closure, the designated detour is to U.S. Highway 95 via Appleway Avenue.

However, because the US-95/I-90 interchange already experiences significant congestion, drivers who can use more distant westbound I-90 on-ramps at 4th Street, 15th Street or Sherman Avenue are strongly encouraged to do so. Spreading traffic across multiple access points will help reduce congestion and delays in the area.

On US-95 the Appleway Avenue intersection is immediately adjacent to the I-90 ramps, so additional traffic heading to I-90 is expected to create significant congestion throughout the area. Traffic backups may extend beyond the immediate interchange and affect drivers traveling on U.S. 95 both north and south of Appleway Avenue. All drivers on US-95 between Neider Avenue and Emma Avenue should be prepared for delays even if they are not traveling directly to the I-90 interchange.

If drivers choose to use Ironwood Drive as their preferred alternate route, they should be aware that it is also an important route for emergency responders and ambulances transporting critical patients to Kootenai Health, the region's primary hospital. Drivers should be prepared for increased congestion and always yield to emergency vehicles.

Because the I-90 on- and off-ramps between US-95 and Northwest Boulevard are so close together, the westbound Northwest Boulevard off-ramp and one westbound I-90 lane will also remain closed during this work. This will give drivers entering I-90 from US-95 more room to safely merge and help keep traffic moving through the work zone.

Drivers who do not need to use I-90 and have other local routes available should strongly consider avoiding the area during the closure.

Digital message boards, roadway signs and Idaho 511 will provide updated traffic information and detour guidance throughout construction. Much of the work is weather dependent, and rain or other inclement weather may shift timelines unexpectedly.

Once complete, the I-90 widening project will expand the corridor to four lanes in each direction, improving safety and reducing congestion along one of North Idaho's busiest routes. Construction is expected to continue through 2029.

For more information about the project or to sign up for email and text updates, visit ITD's project website. For the latest statewide traffic information, visit Idaho 511 or download the app.