ITD crews building new turn lane at U.S. 95-E. Dufort Road
August 5, 2026
By Reader Staff
Motorists traveling on U.S. 95 through the Sagle area are warned of delays, with the Idaho Transportation Department working to build a new northbound right-turn lane at the intersection with Dufort Road.
The project began Aug. 3 and is intended to be the first phase in the future installation of a traffic signal to improve safety for drivers making the turn onto East Dufort Road while keeping traffic flowing on the highway.
According to ITD, the turn lane construction period will last through mid-August, with large equipment and trucks entering and exiting the roadway near the intersection.
“Short delays are possible, and drivers are encouraged to slow down, stay alert and use extra caution while traveling through the work zone,” officials stated.
Right turns from northbound U.S. 95 onto Dufort Road will remain open during construction.
Work on the new traffic signal is expected to begin early next year, with an operational date of sometime in the late-spring or early summer of 2027.
The intersection between U.S. Highway 95 and Dufort Road. Screen capture, Google Maps.
“We know this is a project the community has been asking about for years,” stated ITD District Engineer Ryan Hawkins. “Before installing a traffic signal, we needed to make sure it was the right solution based on engineering standards and changing traffic conditions. Our recent studies show that it is, and we’re excited to begin the first phase of making this improvement a reality.”
The intersection was not initially part of the current seven-year Idaho Transportation Investment Program, but an engineering evaluation showed that it qualified for the work and allowed ITD to access additional funding.
According to the department, community feedback also served to underscore the need and desire for improvements at the intersection.
“While no single improvement can eliminate every crash, the traffic signal is expected to improve safety by creating more controlled opportunities for drivers entering, crossing and turning onto and off of U.S. 95,” ITD stated.
Long-term plans for the U.S. 95 corridor between Dufort and Lakeshore Drive continue to include a full interchange at Dufort Road as the ultimate vision for the area, using on- and off-ramps to separate highway traffic from crossing traffic, which would require eventual removal of the traffic signal. However, that large-scale project is still many years away.
Details about the entire long-term corridor plan can be found at itd.idaho.gov/project under “US-95 Dufort to Lakeshore Drive.”
Additional information about the traffic signal project, including future construction updates, will be shared as the project progresses.
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