Rough ride on Highway 95 soon to be smoothed over

BONNERS FERRY—Boundary County shares a paver  with four other counties in District 1, according to the Idaho Department of Transportation.

Public Involvement Coordinator, Barbara Babic said this is why the paving project currently underway on Highway 95  is being done in steps and is not finished.

“People are stopping our foremen in the grocery store telling them what a terrible paving job we are doing,” said Babic.  “The road is not finished and is scheduled for conclusion in August.”

Boundary County is one of five counties in Northern Idaho  in District 1.  For this district there is only one paver for all five counties and the counties have to take turns using the paver for road projects.

According to Babic what people are seeing is a first layer of asphalt, which is why they are experiencing a rough ride. 

“The roadway has yet to receive the final layer of pavement which will enhance and smooth out the roadway,” she said.

The work is being done by the IDT Bonners Ferry crew, and will receive their turn with the paver on Aug. 23. 

The reason they put the first layer on now, was to prevent further damage to the roadway from the cracks that needed repair.  The roadway cracking that needed to be immediately addressed is finished and awaits the next step. 

An electronic message board is now in place letting people know of the Aug. 23, date to start finalizing the project which Babic said should take a couple of days.