Patience requested with traffic backups

Many of us have experienced the following:  a crash occurs on a state highway, the road is closed and traffic quickly begins to back up.  You wonder what’s going on, and why isn’t there a detour in place? 

Clearing crashes in a timely manner is important to reduce motorist inconvenience and the risks of secondary crashes. The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) works closely with local and state law enforcement to minimize the time it takes to investigate and clear a crash site.

ITD does not detour highway traffic onto the local road system because these roads are not able to manage the high volume and heavy trucks.  This presents a challenge in an area like Bonners Ferry where US-95 is the only north/south highway. It has been our experience that many local drivers will simply find their own way around the crash. 

If you ever find yourself in a long line of vehicles, waiting for the highway to re-open, please remember this. The road could be closed because a semi-truck has lost its load. The crash may have created a hazardous materials spill.  Or it could be due to a crash involving serious injuries, even a fatality. 

We appreciate your patience and understanding.

John Perfect, P.E.

District maintenance engineer