County to add turn lane at Dufort and US-95

By Lyndsie Kiebert
Reader Staff

Those hoping to pull onto U.S. 95 from Dufort Road are used to a lengthy wait at the Dufort stop sign. The Bonner County Road and Bridge Department plans to smooth out the troublesome intersection by adding a turn lane for those hoping to turn right off of Dufort and head south — a plan approved Sept. 17 by Bonner County commissioners.

The intersection between U.S. Highway 95 and Dufort Road. Screen capture, Google Maps.

“Right now there’s just the one lane, and anybody trying to turn left holds up a long queue for anybody who might want to turn right,” said Road and Bridge Staff Engineer Matt Mulder. “There’s a history of impatient drivers who drive down the shoulder and out through the field around the stop sign, and then jump onto the highway. It’s created unsafe conditions.”

Mulder said the project, which was awarded to Earthworks Northwest for $81,863, is slated for this fall.

“Adding this turn lane there will greatly alleviate some of that traffic queuing …  and increase safety,” he said.