The Idaho Transportation Department will begin a $9 million pavement rehabilitation and reconstruction project next week on a seven-mile section of State Highway 3 between Fernwood and Clarkia. Work will begin near milepost 52 at Pine Drive and move north through summer and fall.
The project will include several types of pavement improvements depending on roadway conditions. Some sections will be fully reconstructed due to aging base materials from the highway’s original construction in the 1950s. Other segments will undergo Cement Recycled Asphalt Base Stabilization, or CRABS, a process that pulverizes the existing asphalt and mixes it with cement to create a stronger base for new pavement. Additional areas will receive a less invasive form of resurfacing. Crews will also replace culverts throughout the corridor and complete minor guardrail improvements.
Traffic impacts will vary throughout construction. Initially, daytime traffic will be reduced to a single alternating lane controlled by temporary signals, flaggers and pilot cars, and will revert to two-lane traffic overnight.
During reconstruction and CRABS operations later in the season (likely July through October) those impacts will be in effect 24 hours a day. Motorists should plan for delays of up to 15 minutes.
Drivers entering SH-3 from side roads, driveways, or other access points within the work zone should use extra caution. Because traffic may be operating in a single-lane configuration, drivers may need to wait for a pilot car to pass before entering the highway. Work zone conditions will be subject to change frequently, and drivers will be notified by signs posted at intersecting roadways and approaches for drivers entering the roadway mid-work zone. Failing to follow instructions on posted signs may put drivers in danger of oncoming traffic.
Construction is expected to be complete by the end of 2026. Drivers are encouraged to slow down, pay attention to posted signs, and allow extra travel time. Real-time traffic information will be available through the Idaho 511 system at 511.idaho.gov or by calling 511.
A second ITD project will also affect travel on SH-3 beginning in June or July. A sealcoat and sign replacement project will cover approximately 10 miles between the SH-6 Junction and Emerald Creek Road. Signs will be posted locally to notify drivers ahead of the project’s start date, and work is expected to last about one month.
During this work, traffic will also be reduced to a single alternating lane through active work areas, creating delays of up to 15 minutes.
Once both projects are underway, motorists – especially local residents who travel the corridor regularly – should plan for up to 30 additional minutes of travel time between the two work zones.
While these delays may be frustrating, both projects represent a significant investment in maintaining and improving this rural highway corridor. Together, the work will address aging pavement, improve drainage and roadside safety features, and extend the life of the roadway for years to come.
ITD appreciates the patience of local communities and travelers as crews work to complete these improvements as safely and as efficiently as possible.
