Floods, Slides Close Roads; Drivers Told To Use Caution

North Idaho drivers watched as their roads turned into flood zones Thursday.

Officials shut down Ramsey Road between Dalton and Prairie avenues as water filled the major Coeur d’Alene thoroughfare.

The sheeting rain and melting snow caused rock and mud slides on several area highways.

Idaho Transportation Department officials warned drivers to watch for the slides on Interstate 90 near Fourth of July Pass, as well as on state highways 3, 6, and 97 east of Coeur d’Alene.

The quick thaw and wet weather also has created several potholes on Interstate 90 in Coeur d’Alene and on state highways in the Sandpoint area, ITD officials said.

Crews are having difficulty filling the potholes in the wet weather.

ITD officials urged caution in the following areas due to water over the roads.

Interstate 90 near Wallace, water across both eastbound and westbound lanes.

State Highway 97 east of Coeur d’Alene to Harrison.

State Highway 3 in the St. Maries and Santa areas.

U.S. Highway 95 north of Sandpoint and near Plummer and Tensed.

Transportation officials are monitoring the highway at the Palouse River Bridge near Potlatch as the water continues to rise.

U.S. Highway 2 and state Highway 200 in Sandpoint.

, DataTimes