PREVIOUS UPDATES

Project Update (Summer 2008)

The project Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) is in the review process at the Federal Highway Administration. The document will go into legal sufficiency review later this summer and be released for public comments in late 2008.

Community members will be notified through local newspapers and a project newsletter when the DEIS has been published. Copies will be available on CD, at this Web site and in several locations throughout the community. ITD will collect public comments during a 45-day period. A formal public hearing will be scheduled during the comment period.

ITD will review and address all public comments before submitting a Final EIS to the Idaho Transportation Board. The board will then submit the document to the Federal Highway Administration.

The Federal Highway Administration can then issue a Record of Decision about the final preferred alignment and approve the Final EIS. This will allow ITD to begin final design and right-of-way purchases for the new roadway.

If you are not already on the project database and would like to be notified when the DEIS is published, e-mail thorncreekroadtomoscow@itd.idaho.gov or call Ken Helm at 208-799-4223.

Fall/Winter 2006
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has approved the three U.S. 95 Throncreek Road to Moscow alternatives/alignments recommended by the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) for further study.  

The three alternative/alignments are the same ones ITD recommended to carry forward to the January 2006 open houses--W4, C3 and E2.

ITD will continue to analyze a "no action" alternative/alignment.   "No action" will be established as a baseline of existing conditions.

FHWA's approval means ITD will now conduct further studies on W4, C3 and E2 and document findings in the draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS).   The DEIS will also recommend an alternative/alignment for design and construction.  

The further studies of W4, C3 and E2 will include:

• Community impacts
• Cultural
• Hazardous materials
• Historic
• Noise
• Weed propagation
• Wetlands
• Wildlife

The public will have the opportunity to provide input on the DEIS and the recommended alternative/alignment at a public hearing in spring/summer 2007.

To see a map of the three alternatives/alignments approved by FHWA, click here.

Winter-Spring 2006
At public open houses on January 18-19, 2006, ITD presented the results of the environmental studies for the 10 alternatives/alignments it has studied for the U.S. 95 Thorncreek Road to Moscow project.

ITD also presented the three alternatives/alignments it recommends for further study based on the environmental study results - W4, C3 and E2.

At the open houses, people were asked to provide comments about the environmental studies and the three alternatives/alignments that ITD recommends. ITD received more than 700 comment sheets.

After reviewing the public's comments, ITD will make a recommendation to the Federal Highway Administration about the three alternatives/alignments.

Several people asked questions and expressed concerns about the project and its environmental studies.   The questions and answers have been posted on this Web site. Click here to view.