PUBLIC LANDS -- National Forest travelers headed to the Pass Creek Pass area of the Colville National Forest, including the south trailhead for the Shedroof Divide and the Grassy Top Mountain trail, could experience delays this month on certain days.

The Forest Service and Border Patrol are doing heavy road maintenance on Forest Service Road 302 (Idaho) and Forest Service Road 22 (Washington).  This road system, known to locals and mapping as “Pass Creek Pass”, connects travelers between Nordman, Idaho, and Metaline Falls, Washington.

Although the road will remain open during construction, drivers may experience occasional 2-3 hour delays.

This project will improve the drivability, safety and drainage of this road system, says Jason Kirchner, Idaho Panhandles National Forest Spokesman.

Drivers are encouraged to use an alternate route due to the possibility of 2–3 hour delays (or longer), mostly during weekdays including:

• July 1– July 3, 2014
• July 7–July 9, 2014
•  July 15– July 20, 2014

"The work will be only in Washington, but will take place on both the Colville and IPNF although the majority of the work will be on the IPNF side," Kirchner said. "This is one of those areas where the IPNF slops over into Washington by a few miles. So, anybody approaching the trail heads at the top may experience delays from both sides, but mainly the IPNF side."

“We recognize the importance of this route for the pubic traveling between Washington and Idaho to recreate in the northern portions of the Priest Lake and Newport Ranger Districts” noted Matt Davis, Priest Lake District Ranger.  “Over the course of the next two months the Forest Service in conjunction with the Border Patrol contractors will be working to improve the road for the overall safety of the public.”

Info: Sandpoint Ranger District at (208) 263-5111 or the Priest Lake Ranger District at (208) 443-6839.