COUNCIL, ID — The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) announced that critical repairs on U.S. Highway 95 between Council and New Meadows will begin Monday. The project will operate with two shifts per day to accelerate the timeline and reduce the duration of the closure.
Due to early-season conditions and terrain limitations, ITD determined no local roads are capable of handling diverted traffic. As an alternative, the Weiser River Trail has been cleared of snow and will serve as a bypass for pedestrians and emergency responders. Designated parking areas will be available on both sides of the landslide along US-95.
The highway will fully close to vehicle traffic starting Sunday at 8 p.m. to accommodate an oversized drill rig crane occupying both lanes. Fiber optic line relocation will begin Monday, followed by excavation on Tuesday for the installation of a retaining wall. The excavation will remove 200 feet of pavement and dig to a depth of 10 feet. Repairs are expected to be completed by late April or early May.
To support commercial traffic during the closure, ITD has temporarily modified vehicle permits to allow 53-foot single trailers on State Highway 55. Maintenance work scheduled on SH-55 will be postponed until US-95 reopens.
Regular updates on the roadwork and closure will be available on 511.idaho.gov, through the 511 app, or by calling 511. ITD remains committed to restoring US-95 as quickly as possible while minimizing the impact on local communities and businesses.
