Two I-90 Cataldo Bridges Enter Final Phase, Work Begins March 2

The Idaho Transportation Department is beginning the final construction season to replace two I‑90 bridges that span the Coeur d’Alene River near Cataldo, and ITD says crews will begin work on Monday, March 2, 2026. Project communications state, “On weekdays between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. the interstate will be reduced to a single lane in both directions as work begins to construct temporary lanes that will be used to cross all I‑90 traffic to the eastbound side of the freeway later this spring.”

The replacement work finishes a multi‑year effort that began in 2024; the eastbound bridge was demolished and rebuilt in 2025 with traffic diverted to the westbound lanes while crews completed that structure. The original Cataldo spans were built in 1964 and had reportedly reached the end of their lifespans, prompting the federally funded replacement program.

Motorists should expect weekday lane reductions and speed restrictions during the daily 6 a.m.–6 p.m. work window, and ITD materials note travelers will face intermittent ramp closures and occasional detours through the construction season. “The following week, work will involve the westbound on ramp, but it will remain open for travel with flaggers helping to guide traffic safely through the work zone,” ITD wrote, and project communications add that flaggers will guide traffic when crews work at ramp ties.

Recreational access near the bridges will also be affected. Officials warn Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes users of brief trail closures and have limited boating, swimming and fishing near the bridges while in‑river and adjacent work is underway. Less than 100 yards from the I‑90 crossings, the Canyon Road Bridge is currently closed to traffic and will undergo reconstruction this year under East Side Highway District management; detours are in place and the Canyon Road project was slightly delayed by December flooding.

The project is federally funded and ITD Public Information Officer Heather McDaniel said the total cost “will be approximately $31.2 million.” McDaniel also noted warmer weather is allowing crews to get an early start, “but McDaniel said the advantage likely will not accelerate the completion date.”

Timeline projections in project materials vary: one statement says work is expected to “wrap up in the fall,” while another communication lists “completion is expected by the end of 2026.” The differences in wording leave the precise target month unclear; ITD is the overseeing agency for the contractors performing the work and remains the primary contact for schedule confirmations.

Drivers and trail users should plan for the weekday single‑lane pattern, flagger‑controlled ramp work and periodic detours through spring, summer and fall. For the latest traffic advisories and detour details related to the Canyon Road Bridge and the I‑90 Cataldo work, check updates from the Idaho Transportation Department and the East Side Highway District.