CLARKIA — As of this morning the Idaho Transportation Department has closed the northbound lane of the bridge over the St. Maries River on State Highway 3 near milepost 57. A temporary traffic signal has been placed to allow alternating traffic over the bridge in the southbound lane, and load limit and width restrictions have been put in place for commercial vehicles.
Engineers recently completed a review of the structural integrity of this bridge and found the piers under the northbound lane showing an advanced rate of deterioration from seasonal fluctuations in water levels.
Crews are working on re-fortification of the piers, similar to work performed beneath the southbound lanes of this bridge in 2020, to renew the integrity of the structure and restore both lanes of traffic for normal use.
This bridge is currently scheduled for full replacement in 2027, but may be advanced to earlier years depending on the rate of deterioration.
The ability for crews to complete work will largely depend on weather and temperature conditions over the next few weeks.
Drivers are encouraged to check Idaho 511 for any delays caused by this closure and updated load restrictions for commercial vehicles.
BOISE— Looking for ways to improve traffic safety in your community? The Idaho Office of Highway Safety (OHS) is offering online grant training for community partners on Thursday, November 16 from 2 to 4 p.m. Mountain Time.
Community safety advocates, organizations, municipalities, and non-profits are encouraged to attend to learn more about the grants offered by OHS. Participants will learn how to identify and document traffic safety problems for a grant, eligible projects and activities, and how to complete a grant application.
The application period for Federal Fiscal Year 2025 Grants will open in December 2023.
These grants fund projects to address specific behavior-related traffic safety issues. These behaviors include impaired driving, aggressive driving, distracted driving, seat belt use, bicycle, pedestrian, motorcycle safety, and young drivers. Grants may be awarded for assisting OHS in targeting traffic safety focus areas, expanding ongoing activities, or developing a new program or intervention.
Please email ohstraining@itd.idaho.gov to register for the grant training session.
FORT HALL – The northbound off-ramp at the Fort Hall Interchange (Exit 80) is scheduled to close Monday at noon as crews finish paving the new off-ramp. Work is expected to be completed by 5 p.m.
The closure will last approximately four hours and is dependent on favorable weather conditions. During the closure traffic will be detoured to Exit 89.
The Fort Hall Interchange is undergoing a complete reconstruction to replace the outdated bridge and improve on- and off-ramps. The redesign also allows for the planned three lanes northbound and southbound on I-15. Those wishing to learn more about the project can visit https://itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/i-15-fort-hall-interchange.
The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is looking for a full-time Public Information Officer to serve the South-central Idaho regional office located in Shoshone, Idaho. The district runs from the Idaho State Line to the south, all the way north through the Twin Falls region to the Wood River Valley and the Sun Valley/Ketchum area.
The ideal candidate will have experience in the transportation field or familiarity with transportation issues, and will also be media savvy.
This individual will make a difference daily, and will be part of an award-winning agency, dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in Idaho through transportation. At ITD, every employee is critical to the mission as we strive to foster an innovative, collaborative workplace where employees can grow and do their best work. This opening is an opportunity to use your media relations, writing, and collaboration skills to promote the department’s mission.
The PIO will join the department’s Office of Communication professionals statewide in telling the story of one of the best transportation departments in the country. Candidates must have strong writing skills, experience interacting with news media, an understanding of how to use social media effectively, and the ability to develop successful outreach campaigns, facilitate public meetings and assist with internal communication.
The position closes Sept. 10.
Here’s the link to the position announcement:https://statecareers.idaho.gov/jobs/13303772-public-information-officer
The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is looking for a full-time Public Information Officer to serve the Southwest Idaho regional office located in Boise, Idaho. The ideal candidate will have experience in the transportation field or familiarity with transportation issues, and will also be media savvy.
This individual will make a difference daily, and will be part of an award-winning agency, dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in Idaho through transportation. At ITD, every employee is critical to the mission as we strive to foster an innovative, collaborative workplace where employees can grow and do their best work. This opening is an opportunity to use your media relations, writing, and collaboration skills to promote the department’s mission.
The PIO will join the department’s Office of Communication professionals statewide in telling the story of one of the best transportation departments in the country. Candidates must have strong writing skills, experience interacting with news media, an understanding of how to use social media effectively, and the ability to develop successful outreach campaigns, facilitate public meetings and assist with internal communication.
The position closes Aug. 12.
EAGLE – The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) will repave the west side of the Chinden Boulevard/Eagle Road intersection overnight, starting tonight and continuing through Sunday night, June 25. Drivers should take alternate routes to avoid long delays especially for westbound and eastbound drivers. The intersection work is part of an ongoing project to repave Eagle Road, (State Highway 55), between I-84 and SH 44.
Work at the Chinden intersection will begin at 10 p.m. and end at the following times:
Weekday mornings: 6 a.m.
Saturday morning: 7 a.m.
Sunday morning: 8 a.m.
The remaining work on Eagle Road will begin at 10 p.m. and end at the following times:
Weekday mornings: 6 a.m.
Saturday mornings: 8 a.m.
Sunday mornings: 9 a.m.
Access to side streets on Eagle Road will be blocked during work hours where crews are working. Detours routes will be in place.
Crews will continue to repave the southbound lanes of Eagle Road over the next several weeks. More information will be shared at a later date about future closures when crews repave the intersections at McMillan Road, Ustick Road and Fairview Avenue.
All construction is expected to be completed by fall 2023.
For the latest closure locations, text EagleRoad to 1-866-483-8422 or visit itdprojects.org/eagleroadrepairs to sign up for email updates.
BOISE— April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is urging drivers to put down the distractions and drive engaged this month and every month. The Idaho Office of Highway Safety (OHS) is teaming up with local law enforcement across the state to stop distracted driving. Now through April 19, more officers will be on the roads looking to educate distracted drivers and remind them that Idaho is a hands-free state. It is illegal to operate a hand-held communication device while operating a vehicle, even while stopped in traffic.
“OHS’s mission is for everyone to drive engaged. Engaged driving is the opposite of distracted driving. It’s being present behind the wheel so you can react safely to whatever comes your way while driving,” said OHS Program Manager Josephine Middleton. “It’s the safety standard we all should commit to whenever we start our cars.”
Distractions are a significant danger to drivers in Idaho. In 2021, distracted driving played a role in 5,035 crashes, and 11% of all fatal crashes involved some form of distracted driving. Distractions are broken up into three broad categories: visual (taking eyes off the road), manual (taking hands off the wheel), and cognitive (taking your mind off the road).
Examples of distractions while driving:
- Using a phone
- Setting a new course in a GPS
- Frequent/extended fiddling with the radio or climate controls
- Passengers, children, or pets distracting the driver
- Eating while driving
- Doing hair, makeup, or other personal care tasks
Tips to be an engaged driver:
- Enable “do not disturb” mode on your phone while driving
- Set up your music, GPS navigation, and climate control before you start driving
- Stop to eat or save it until you reach your destination
- Save the personal care tasks for when you arrive at your destination, or do them before you leave
Visit shift-idaho.org/engaged-driving for more information.
BOISE – The Idaho Transportation Department is aware of the poor pavement condition on Broadway Avenue in Boise and is working to address the issue. Winter weather has accelerated the roadway surface separating from the pavement underneath, resulting in many large, shallow potholes.
ITD is working to address the pothole problem on an ongoing temporary basis, as well as with a permanent repair planned for this summer. The temporary repairs consist of filling the holes with “cold patch” material, but that has proven challenging as the potholes are shallow enough that the material quickly becomes displaced. None the less, maintenance crews will continue to target those potholes that will hold the patch material.
Permanent repairs will be performed once weather allows later this year. ITD is accepting bids to repave Broadway Avenue from I-84 to Beacon/East Park Boulevard. The project is scheduled to kick off this summer and will ultimately provide drivers with a new, smooth roadway surface.
ITD appreciates the public’s patience and is working diligently to start repaving Broadway Avenue as soon as possible.
BOISE- The Idaho Office of Highway Safety (OHS) and law enforcement partners across Idaho are joining forces to educate drivers and stop aggressive driving. From February 26 through March 11, expect to see extra officers focused on stopping dangerous, aggressive driving.
In 2022, preliminary data shows there were 14,002 aggressive driving crashes in Idaho. Last year 39 percent of all fatal crashes involved some form of aggressive driving behavior.
“When you hear the words aggressive driving, the first term that comes to mind for most people is road rage,” said Denise Dinnauer, the Aggressive Driving Program Manager for OHS. “But road rage is a criminal act on the extreme end of a wide array of behaviors. More people engage in aggressive driving than they may realize.”
Examples of aggressive driving include:
- Speeding
- Tailgating
- Driving too fast for conditions
- Cutting in front of another driver and then slowing down
- Failing to stop for red lights or stop signs
- Failing to yield
- Weaving in and out of traffic
- Changing lanes without signaling
- Blocking cars that are attempting to change lanes
- Passing a vehicle on the wrong side of the road or on the shoulder
- Screaming, honking, or flashing lights
- Making hand gestures or facial expressions at other drivers
OHS encourages people to drive engaged and think critically about the effect that impulse, emotion, and impatience can have on their actions behind the wheel.
“We know Idahoans want to do the right thing, but people may not realize when they are slipping into aggressive driving behavior that they are putting lives at risk,” Dinnauer said. “We can all do our part to keep our roads safe and save lives.”
OHS has more aggressive driving prevention materials available at shift-idaho.org/aggressive-driving/.
BOISE – Repairs to the Interstate 84 Galloway Road overpass in Canyon County will begin in late February and will include overnight interstate detours for westbound motorists.
The overpass, located between State Highway 44 (Exit 25) and Sand Hollow/Oasis Road (Exit 17), will be fully closed during this work to repair damages due to a large truck hitting the structure.
During some overnight work, westbound I-84 traffic will be detoured off the interstate at SH-44 and up Old Highway 30 to the Sand Hollow/Oasis Road interchange and then back onto I-84.
Advanced notification of those detours will be posted on I-84 near the work zone and on 511.idaho.gov and on the 511 app.
“Safety is our highest priority,” said Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) Project Manager Justin Wolf. “Please watch for flaggers and other crews working in the area and follow all posted signs.”
