Don't put the byway here, thank you

The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is approaching the final design phase for the Sand Creek bypass project in Sandpoint. The agency and its hired consultants are planning to issue a proposal in March that includes major changes from the project as described in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and Record of Decision (ROD). One of the major changes being discussed is a proposal that would fill almost 5 acres of Sand Creek between the RR bridge at the mouth of Sand Creek and Hwy 200. Anyone who cares about beautiful Lake Pend Oreille and the role it plays in the economic health of Sandpoint and Bonner County should be cynical if not appalled by what is likely to happen if and when ITD starts mucking around in Sand Creek.

Water quality disasters have resulted from most major ITD highway construction projects in the Idaho Panhandle:

1990 Interstate 90 east of Coeur dıAlene: ITD placed thousands of tons of fill on a steep slope directly above lake Coeur dıAlene. A huge fill failure sent two bulldozers and a massive amount of fill dirt into the lake, destroying a prime fish spawning area in Lake Coeur dıAlene. The bulldozers still sit at the bottom of the lake.

1994 Hwy 95 North (of Sandpoint): the public, as well as state and federal agencies were up in arms due to a highway fill failure; tons of fill dirt slipped under the surface of an adjacent bog, raising its surface 12 feet and destroying 4 acres of wetlands. Massive erosion also impacted Sand Creek during construction. A citizensı lawsuit, joined by the Army Corps of Engineers, nailed ITD for the wetland destruction and failure to control erosion. Cost overrun for project: at least $2 million (20% over budget).

1995 Hwy 2 West (of Sandpoint): A string of notices of violations were issued by state and federal agencies regarding water quality disasters on this project. Erosion controls were inadequate or not implemented and mud flowed into the Pend Oreille River. Cost overrun for project: at least $2 million (20% over budget).

1998 North Hill Bonners Ferry Hwy 95 Project: Another enormous fill failure occurred when tons of dirt placed high on the north hill to create the new road bed slid down the hill and across the railroad tracks at the bottom. A dump truck driver barely escaped being caught in the torrent of mud when it cut loose. The major north-south route was closed for weeks. Economic cost to Bonners Ferry merchants? Cost overrun?

2002 Hwy 95 S. of Coeur dıAlene - Mica Bay: Thousands of tons of sediment was discharged into Mica Creek and Mica Bay as a direct result of ITD highway reconstruction. So much dirt has accumulated in the bay that it will have to be dredged in order for shoreline land owners to use their docks. Citizens filed a lawsuit in an attempt to get the problem fixed. EPA threatened to fine ITD $27,500 each day. Cost to fix estimate: $23 million. Cost overrun for project: ? millions.

2002 Hwy 95 South of Moscow: In spite of opposition by Idaho Fish and Game, Uof I scientists and local ITD is proposing to relocate Hwy 95 to Paradise Ridge, an ecologically unique and sensitive area. The decision was apparently the result of input from a "focus" group whose members may have stood to gain. Scientists and locals are adamantly opposed, claiming the proposed route would result in destruction of the last intact portion of the Palouse Prairie ecosystem, and also because of safety issues, due to the siteıs high propensity for fog and low visibility.

2004 Hwy 95 Sand Creek Bypass: According to ITD, the major purpose of the fill in Sand Creek is to create a bike path along the shoreline. In reality, some of the fill in the creek will also serve as a buttress for the proposed earthen berm on which the elevated highway would be placed. The fill they are currently proposing to use will come from excavation for the highway farther north on the peninsula, which is predominantly highly unstable sandy soils.

If and when disaster strikes, 1) Sand Creek would be clogged with fill; 2) water quality in the lake and river is likely to be severely degraded; 3) completion of the construction would be delayed due to federal and state agency intervention, legal maneuvering and attempts to undo the damage, which would likely cause greater damage; 4) the delay would cause severe economic hardship for Sandpoint area merchants; 5) the project could wind up costing taxpayers millions more than anticipated.

The project is not a done deal, in spite of the claims by its political proponents and ITD. The Sand Creek bypass is still in the "design phase" and still subject to reversal, if the community wakes up, speaks out and says NO, not here, no thank you.

Signed by Liz Sedler, North Idaho Community Action Network