Idaho Landslide: Highway 95 Closure Puts Lives and Livelihoods at Risk

On Sunday, March 16, 2025, a massive Idaho landslide buried a section of U.S. Highway 95 between New Meadows and Council, following a heavy rainstorm. This catastrophic event has completely shut down the highway in both directions, forcing traffic onto Idaho Highway 55—known as the state’s most dangerous road. While rockslides and weather-related damage aren’t new to the state, the consequences of this closure extend far beyond simple inconvenience. The situation is a stark reminder of Idaho’s crumbling infrastructure and the failure of leadership to address long-standing vulnerabilities in our transportation system.

For residents of Northern Adams County and the surrounding areas, this is not just about traffic. Commuters, truck drivers, emergency responders, and local businesses are now facing devastating consequences. Some residents are now forced to endure eight-hour round-trip drives just to reach work. Businesses that rely on Highway 95 for commerce are experiencing significant losses. And perhaps most concerning, emergency response times are now dangerously delayed—putting lives at risk.

The Consequences of a Fragile Road Network: Idaho Landslide Impact

Idaho’s leaders have long ignored the warning signs of an infrastructure crisis. The failure to act on the Highway Initiative has left Idahoans with only one alternative route—Highway 55, a winding, high-risk roadway that has seen an alarming number of accidents and fatalities. The impact of the Idaho landslide is already being felt in several key areas:

1. Public Safety Risks
   • Emergency response teams are now struggling to reach residents in Northern Adams County, with delayed response times that could mean the difference between life and death.
   • Ambulance services from Idaho County are being stretched thin, forced to cover new territories without additional resources.
   • Highway 55 is already dangerous under normal circumstances. Now, with a surge in diverted traffic, the likelihood of more accidents is skyrocketing.
2. Economic Devastation
   • Truck drivers and freight carriers are experiencing massive delays, leading to lost wages and increased costs for businesses dependent on reliable shipping routes.
   • Local businesses along Highway 95 are losing customers, with significantly reduced foot traffic and accessibility.
   • Idaho taxpayers will ultimately bear the financial burden of emergency repairs—costs that could have been mitigated through proactive planning.
3. Stranded Communities
   • Residents in affected areas are now facing eight-hour round-trip commutes just to get to work or access essential services.
   • Families are struggling to get groceries, attend medical appointments, and maintain their livelihoods.
   • School bus routes and public transit are being disrupted, adding additional strain to working parents and students.

History Repeats Itself: Lessons from Highway 55

This isn’t the first time Idaho has faced a preventable infrastructure disaster. A few years ago, a landslide on Highway 55 created massive disruptions for communities in Valley County. The road closure caused economic damage, delayed emergency response times, and widespread frustration among residents and business owners.

Yet, despite the clear warning signs, lawmakers failed to take action. The Highway Initiative, which aimed to modernize and expand Idaho’s highway system to accommodate rapid growth, was stalled in the Senate. Now, we’re paying the price for inaction.

What Needs to Happen NOW?

Idaho’s rapid population growth demands serious investment in infrastructure. We can no longer afford to play catch-up after disasters strike. Here’s what needs to happen immediately:

• The Idaho Department of Transportation (IDOT) must prioritize highway resiliency by identifying high-risk areas and implementing mitigation strategies to prevent future collapses.
• Lawmakers must recognize that Idaho’s infrastructure is failing and move forward with long-overdue investments in safer roads, alternative routes, and better maintenance.
• The Highway Initiative must be revived and fast-tracked to ensure that Idaho has multiple safe and reliable roadways instead of forcing all traffic onto a single dangerous route.

The Cost of Doing Nothing

Every time we delay infrastructure improvements, Idahoans suffer. The economic and human toll of this crisis will only continue to grow if action is not taken. Repairing highways after landslides is always more expensive than preventing them in the first place. More importantly, lives are on the line. How many more accidents, injuries, and delays will it take before Idaho’s leaders wake up?

The time for talk is over. Idahoans must demand that their lawmakers and the Idaho Department of Transportation act NOW. Infrastructure investment is not a luxury—it’s a necessity. 

Join Pathways Forward Idaho in Taking Action

At Pathways Forward Idaho, we are committed to ensuring that Idaho’s transportation network is built for the future—not just patched up after disasters strike. The Idaho landslide on Highway 95 is proof that failing infrastructure isn’t just an inconvenience; it’s a public safety and economic emergency. We need smart, forward-thinking solutions to keep Idahoans safe and our economy thriving. Join us in demanding real action from lawmakers. Visit our website, sign our petition, and help us push for the infrastructure investments Idaho desperately needs. Together, we can build a safer, more connected future.