IDAHO TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT
U.S. 95, Thorncreek Road to Moscow Project

Record of Decision

The Idaho Transportation Department has received federal approval for a project to improve U.S. 95 between Thorncreek Road and Moscow.

The formal Record of Decision, signed Monday, March 21, 2016 by the Federal Highway Administration, authorizes ITD to purchase land and begin construction of the project.

FHWA and ITD evaluated many alternatives for the new highway alignment, including western, central and eastern routes. The final eastern route was chosen after a multi-year environmental review process. Construction of the project is expected to begin as early as fall 2017.

The new eastern alignment will follow existing U.S. 95 from Thorncreek Road north to the top of Reisenauer Hill. The highway will then shift to the east and connect back to existing U.S. 95 near the grain elevators south of Moscow.

Download the Record of Decision here.

Construction could begin as early as the fall of 2017.

Winter 2018/2019 Update

The Idaho Transportation Department continues to move forward with plans for the U.S. 95, Thorncreek Road to Moscow Project.

The final eastern route (E2) for the highway was chosen after a multi-year environmental review process. The Federal Highway Administration issued a Record of Decision (ROD) for the project in 2016, giving ITD authority to begin final design and purchase land.

A legal motion was brought against FHWA and ITD in 2017 regarding the Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision. The U.S. District Court for Idaho ruled against the motion in favor of FHWA and ITD in August 2017.

Project opposition appealed that decision in January 2018. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld the lower court’s decision on December 7, 2018.

ITD will continue right-of-way acquisition and submit a 404 permit application with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. After those two steps are completed, the project can be put out for construction bids. Work could begin as early as late summer 2019.

Please call Ken Helm at (208)799-5090 if you have any questions about the project.