Highway administration releases emergency funds for US 95 repairs

July 11, 2022

Highway 95 south of Lapwai

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration today announced the immediate availability of $3 million in “quick release” Emergency Relief funds to help the Idaho Transportation Department repair roads and bridges damaged by recent floods in Nez Perce and Idaho counties, creating dangerous travel conditions in the North Central and Northeast regions of the state beginning June 10, 2022.

Idaho Governor Brad Little issued a disaster declaration on June 22 to assist with response and repair efforts.

“The emergency funding we’re announcing today will help the people of Idaho recover from these devastating floods and safely reopen their roads and bridges as quickly as possible,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

Initial flooding closed the northbound lane of US-95 four miles south of Lapwai. Crews worked diligently to reopen two lanes with an asphalt surface as soon as possible and committed to start refocusing on more permanent repairs later this summer.

See photo of Lapwai Creek flooding and washing out on US-95

These “quick release” funds will go toward emergency repair work and operations to maintain traffic flow throughout the disaster. Damaged roads include US-95, Gifford-Reubens Road, Southwick Road and Webb Road in Nez Perce County as well as Toll/Clear Creek Road in Idaho County.