First Highway 41 overpass completed in northern Idaho

The first of two overpass bridges on Idaho Highway 41 north of Hayden Ave. in northern Idaho opened for traffic on May 13. This overpass is one of two that the Idaho Transportation Department is building over tracks belonging to the Union Pacific Railroad.

Work on the overpass began in June 2020. The completion of this structure is a major milestone in the ITD’s ongoing project to expand Hwy 41 to four lanes between Interstate-90 in Post Falls and Rathdrum.

When the new overpass opened, traffic on Hwy 41 shifted from the old roadway to the newly paved lanes between Prairie and Wyoming Avenues. When the project is completed in 2022, the new overpass will carry the two lanes of northbound traffic.

“Opening this first bridge is critical to moving on to the next phase of the project,” ITD Project Manager Mason Palmer said. “Now we can start building the second bridge and continue upgrading intersections.”

When the overpass opened, Hayden Ave. heading east from Hwy 41 reopened. The road was closed while construction crews built the overpass; however, Hayden Ave. heading west from Hwy 41 will remain closed until early August. Lancaster Road east of Hwy 41 will also be closed for the same period of time. Other work on this project scheduled for this summer includes updating traffic signals and installing turn restrictions along the highway.

“Generally speaking, we will build a new set of lanes to the east, switch traffic over to those lanes and then rebuild the existing roadway,” Palmer said. “What drivers have historically traveled on will become two southbound lanes, and the two new lanes will carry northbound traffic.”

ITD’s project to widen Hwy 41 is designed to address growing traffic demands on this highly traveled six-mile corridor in Kootenai County. The project scope includes adding an additional lane in each direction, upgrading intersections, building an overpass over the railroad tracks and removing the at-grade crossing on a discontinued rail spur, which enhances mobility.

Once construction is complete, Hwy 41 will be two lanes in each direction divided by a 50-foot median wherever possible, and by a curb elsewhere. A dedicated bike and pedestrian path along the highway are also part of the project.

All work on Hwy 41 is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2022. ITD funding for the project is $51.5 million, with another $5.7 million contributed by the cities of Post Falls and Rathdrum. The general contractor is Scarcella Brothers Inc. out of Spokane, Washington.