Want more passing lanes between Bonners and Sandpoint? How you can help:
There have been a lot of very bad accidents and close calls for people driving between Bonners Ferry and Sandpoint. Much of this seems to be due to a lack of passing lanes, leading people to take big risks when passing others.
We have an opportunity to encourage the state of Idaho to add a passing lane (or more) to this sketchy stretch of highway! They’re collecting suggestions for their 7-year road project plan until July 31. To suggest more passing lanes between Bonners Ferry and Sandpoint (or to suggest other highway traffic changes), email itipcomments@itd.idaho.gov.
The 9B.News story from July 7 also gives a phone number to call, (208) 334-8063, where you can leave a message with your suggestions. You can visit https://itd.idaho.gov/funding/ to see current plans, which don’t currently include any additional passing lanes.
I really do think that if many people reached out they would consider the suggestions. This is very short notice, but you have until the end of July 31 to get your comments in. It’s very simple to do.
May the Lord bless you all!
Acts 4:12
Isaac Gorman
Bonners Ferry
This of course will be a highly unpopular response, but more passing lanes and ‘better’ highways is not the answer.
What is necessary is to demand better DRIVERS.
People need to slow down, get off their phones, stop texting and driving, stop using bluetooth earpieces or in-car speakers for calls, turn the radios down, plan better, and most of all LEAVE THE CITY BEHIND. People cannot move to smaller communities and still drive as if they’re in rush hour traffic. Adding more lanes will not solve the problem, it will inevitably make them worse. People moved here for a slower life away from the rat race and need to start acting like it. BF is losing it’s small town charm that drew so many here.
If we are to be a healthy community and truly love our neighbor, it starts with realizing the world doesn’t revolve around us, and that we’re not the only ones on the road…
With respect, Brother.
I appreciate your comment. I definitely believe that the best solution would be to have better drivers. I also do not want the highway to look anything like a big city. I suppose my reasoning is that it would be helpful to have at least one additional section of passing lane, particularly southbound, so that inevitably risky drivers at least have a chance to pass more safely. Thank you for emphasizing the importance of good driving 🙂 That, in my opinion, would be ideal.
Wider highway would help but if it was patrolled a lot more I think that would also help. So many crazy drivers on this hiway. I can’t believe the speeds they drive and the places they pass or how many cars they pass at time. You often have to get over on whatever shoulder there is to keep from getting hit by on coming cars passing. Speed limit is sixty, I set my cruse at sixty, often times catch myself up to sixty five with cars still flying by. I just don’t get it. Speed limits don’t mean anything to people.
Unmarked ISP cars, photo radar and citations for impeding traffic flow. Start hitting these idiots in their pocketbook.