A closure of U.S. 95 between New Meadows and Council is set to end on Monday, according to the Idaho Transportation Department.
The roadway has been closed since March 31 when crews began work to rebuild a section of roadway that slid away in a March 16 landslide.
Crews worked extended hours, including two shifts per day, to expedite the repairs, said ITD Chief Deputy and Chief Operations Officer Dan McElhinney.
“US-95 is one of Idaho’s most essential transportation routes, and from day one we knew we had to act swiftly and decisively to reopen in April,” McElhinney said. “We deeply appreciate the public’s patience and the continued collaboration among all city, county and local business partners throughout the closure.”
Temporary lane closures still possible
Despite the road being re-opened to traffic on Monday, temporary lane closures may still be needed to install guardrails and complete other roadside work.
Repairs to the highway involved building a retaining wall beneath the section of roadway that crumbled away into the Weiser River amid steady rains and warming temperatures on March 16.
During the closure, there has been no direct detour around the work zone due to deep snow remaining on back roads in the area. Some cars have still attempted to travel those roadways and gotten stuck, according to the Adams County Sheriff’s Office.
Economic disruption
The closure has been a major interruption to local business and governments, with more than 100 employees unable to complete commutes to or from their homes in Council.
However, snow was plowed from a section of the Weiser River Trail to allow pedestrians and bicyclists to park on one side of the closure and travel to the other. The contractor working on the road has also helped shuttle commuters in an off-road vehicle.
Meanwhile, the City of New Meadows, in partnership with Mountain Community Transit, arranged a bus shuttle to take commuters to and from the north side of the closure into the city on mornings and evenings from Monday through Friday.
