Almost every motorist who drives U.S. Highway 95 in North Idaho regularly has a tale about a close encounter with another vehicle.

Most live to tell of avoiding a head-on collision with a drunk by driving on the shoulder of the road – at least on the sections that have broad shoulders. Others have survived frightening accidents on what former Gov. Cecil Andrus once dubbed “the goat trail.” Still others weren’t as lucky. Although tens of millions of dollars in state and federal money have been poured into reconstruction of the state’s only north-south trail, Highway 95 continues to claim lives and destroy families.

To minimize such unnecessary carnage the state of Idaho must fix the deadly roadway that runs from Canada through southeast Oregon and into Nevada. And the state, to its credit, has reconstructed some of the worst stretches of the highway, including the dangerous, windy strip south of Coeur d’Alene. With increasing traffic and ongoing fatalities, however, it’s evident that more needs to be done.

Fortunately, Gov. Dirk Kempthorne understands the importance of a modern Highway 95. In a speech to lawmakers touring North Idaho this week, Kempthorne hinted he was preparing to ask the Legislature in January to propose a major statewide road upgrade, specifically mentioning Highway 95. The governor didn’t provide specifics about the projects or funding. But we can wait for the details. Meanwhile, the cheers and applause from lawmakers in Lewiston express our feelings about the governor’s tentative plan.

Highway 95 will continue to be a death trap unless the state does something bold.

At this point, it isn’t hard to speculate that Kempthorne will ask for permission to borrow money up front, via bonds, to finance reconstruction and then pay the debt down with future federal highway appropriations. Kempthorne used a similar approach last year when he won approval to finance $70 million worth of capital projects for Idaho’s colleges and universities, including the nursing and health sciences building under construction at North Idaho College.

Some legislators aren’t thrilled about long-term debt, including Kooskia Republican Skip Brandt, who is in line to be the next Senate Transportation chairman: “I believe we need to spend as we go, as we have the money,” he told the Idaho Statesman. Despite the urgency to dramatically expand road reconstruction, however, the Legislature has been unable to find a way to provide funding. Since 1996, the Statesman points out, legislators have rejected bills to fix Highway 95 by bonding or by raising gas taxes and vehicle registration fees.

With traffic increasing by an estimated 100 vehicles per month on some stretches of Highway 95 in North Idaho, the state doesn’t have the luxury of continuing its piecemeal approach to reconstruction. Too much is at stake to get bogged down by a state senator’s funding qualms. Kempthorne deserves the support of all panhandle legislators in his quest to address this serious, long-standing problem.