Full road closure near Boise Town Square beginning April 26

Railroad crossing on Milwaukee Street in Boise.

The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD), in conjunction with Ada County Highway District and the Boise Valley Railroad, will close Milwaukee Street from Westpark Street to Franklin Road April 26 through April 29. The full closure is necessary to replace the railroad crossing in the area.

The Milwaukee crossing was installed in 2006, and the last major maintenance of the crossing surface was completed more than ten years ago. This construction will bring the railroad crossing level with the roadway, creating a smoother driving experience for the traveling public.

“There are two trains that use these tracks every day, and they are vital for Idaho’s commerce. In order to replace the crossing quickly, a full closure is needed,” said Blaine Schwendiman, the Rail-Highway Crossing Manager for ITD.

Drivers will still be able to access businesses during the closure.

ITD resumes repaving US-95 in Owyhee County on Monday

The Idaho Transportation Department is resuming work to repave US-95 in late April 2024. Crews will repave the highway between the Port of Entry and the US-95, SH-55 Junction west Marsing.

The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) will resume repaving on U.S. Highway 95 between the Port of Entry and its junction with State Highway 55 west of Marsing. Work will improve and extend the life of the roadway. Construction will begin Monday and is expected to finish this summer.

During construction motorists can expect:

One lane open at all times.
Daytime and nighttime work.
A temporary signal or a pilot car guiding traffic through the construction zone.
Wait times of around 15 minutes.
Speed limit reductions to 55 mph.
Width restrictions in place.

ITD began construction on US-95 in July 2023 and completed repaving from the Oregon state line to the Port of Entry. As a part of the project, ITD also:

Installed new curbing and guardrails.
Updated signage and road striping.

Those who are interested in learning more about the project are invited to sign up for email updates by visiting itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/95repaving.

US-95 repaving project will begin April 22 2024 — This is a map to show the US-95 repaving project that will resume on April 22 2024

SH-16 closure planned for Saturday in Emmett

The Idaho Transportation Department will close State Highway 16 between Johns Avenue and Cherry Lane in Emmett this Saturday.

The SH-16 overnight closure will begin at 7 p.m. April 13 and reopen to traffic the following day. The closure is necessary in order to replace an irrigation pipe beneath the highway. Traffic control will be in place with a detour routing traffic onto Johns Avenue and Cherry Lane.

Drivers can utilize the Idaho 511 system by phone, online, or through the app for updated closure information.

Full overnight closure on SH-16 From Johns Avenue to Cherry Lane April 13

ITD seeks feedback on project to improve SH-44 from I-84 to Star Road at open houses

The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is hosting two open houses next week to present and gather feedback on alternative alignments for State Highway 44 from Interstate 84 to Star Road. ITD will collect feedback from the public both at the in-person open house and via an online survey.

Details for the open houses are below:

Wednesday, April 3, at Star Fire Protection District at 11665 W State Street, Ste. B in Star – 4:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. (drop in anytime)
Thursday, April 4, at Middleton Middle School at 511 W Main Street in Middleton – 4:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. (drop in anytime)

The same information will be available at both in-person open houses. A virtual open house with identical information will also be available from April 3 through April 17 at: https://itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/sh44pel.

“We encourage everyone to join us at an upcoming open house to share their feedback. Your input is crucial as we make informed decisions to advance this project, meeting both the present needs and future travel demands in this growing area,” Project Manager Mark Wasdahl said.

In this initial study phase, ITD is implementing the Federal Highway Administration’s Planning and Environmental Linkage (PEL) process to identify and screen transportation improvements. Once improvements have been chosen, the project will transition into the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) phase.

To learn more about the project and sign up for email updates, please visit: https://itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/sh44pel.

Nine ITD snowplows hit so far this winter season

Winter weather has brought snowy driving conditions to much of Idaho. Unfortunately, the rise in snowy road conditions has also led to a sharp rise in snowplow strikes. Nine Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) plows have been hit so far this winter season. Five strikes happened over the last seven days.

Two of the most recent strikes happened this Wednesday in the Magic Valley, one on I-84 north of Twin Falls, and one on I-84 west of Wendell. Both involved a semi truck rear-ending a plow. The vehicles will be out of service for up to two weeks while they undergo repairs.

“It’s a major impact on maintenance sheds when equipment is taken out of service. We are limited on snowplows,” Jerome Foreman Brian Davidson said. “It makes it more difficult to keep roads clear.”

Another recent strike happened on Tuesday in Nampa. The plow was heading eastbound on I-84 near Karcher Road. A pickup pulling a trailer merged onto the interstate and lost control. The trailer swung out and hit the ITD vehicle’s wing plow. There was no lasting damage to the snowplow.

ITD wants to remind drivers how to be safe around snowplows.

Do not pass a plow on the right. Plows have a 10-foot extendable wing plow on the right side that may be difficult to see in snowy conditions.
Provide ample space for plows to work and steer clear of their blind spots. This also means increasing your following distance behind the plow.
Practice patience and stay behind the plow for the safest road conditions.
Plows often operate in pairs to clear multiple lanes; never position yourself between tandem plows.
In case of a crash or if you need to stop on the side of the road, stay inside your vehicle for both your safety and that of our plow operators.

Last winter, there were 17 plow strikes, a number ITD does not want to repeat. Please be careful driving and mindful of our plows. Check 511.idaho.gov or the Idaho 511 App for road conditions before traveling. For more winter driving tips, visit itd.idaho.gov/travel.

*For real-time updates and photos of plow strikes, visit ITD’s Facebook or X pages.

SH-21 between Grandjean and Banner Summit set to close at 4 p.m. due to avalanche risk

The Idaho Transportation Department will close State Highway 21 from Grandjean to Banner Summit this afternoon due to high avalanche risk.

A weather system bringing rain and snow is likely to trigger avalanches in this section of highway. The anticipated closure will begin at 4 p.m. today. However, actual weather impacts may require an earlier closure.

Motorists needing to use the roadway are advised to make the trip immediately or plan to use alternate routes. The alternate route between the Treasure Valley and Stanley area is to travel east on Interstate 84, exit in Mountain Home at Exit 95 to U.S. Highway 20 and then head north on State Highway 75.

The ITD avalanche crew monitors the snowpack along this section of highway in order to forecast the risk of avalanches large enough to reach the roadway. This practice allows the department to keep the highway open during the winter months with a reasonable confidence of safety for the traveling public.

There are around 70 avalanche paths in this 11-mile stretch of SH-21. Avalanches can be triggered without warning. For this reason, there is no parking or stopping within this section of road during the winter.

The highway will reopen when the snowpack has stabilized and the risk of active avalanches is reduced. Updates on closures and openings will be posted on 511.idaho.gov.

Winter weather forces road closures across the state

View from behind the plow of it pushing snow

Blizzard conditions across much of the state has caused the Idaho Transportation Department to close several routes.

Current closures include:

Southwest Idaho:

State Highway 21 from Grandjean Junction to Banner Summit
State Highway 21 from Idaho City to Lowman

South-Central Idaho:

U.S. Highway 93 from Jerome to Shoshone
U.S. Highway 20 from Fairfield to Mountain Home
U.S. Highway 30 from Hansen to Murtaugh
State Highway 75 from Shoshone to Timmerman
State Highway 46 from Gooding to Fairfield

Southeast Idaho:

State Highway 34 from Conda to Wyoming
State Highway 36 from SH-34 to Ovid

East Idaho:

State Highway 47 from Ashton to Bear Gulch
State Highway 32 from Tetonia to Ashton
State Highway 33 from Newdale to Tetonia. Note that Teton Pass in Wyoming is also closed.
U.S. Highway 26 from Ririe to Swan Valley
State Highway 31 from Swan Valley to Victor

Plows will be out in full force today and until the winter weather subsides. The department asks that those who do not need to travel stay home or time their trips around weather conditions.

To share the road safely with plows, travelers are reminded to:

Never pass a plow on the right.
Give plows room to work by maintaining at least a three-second following distance.
If multiple plows are working in tandem, do not attempt to move between them.
Stay out of the blind spots.
Drive for conditions.
Allow extra time to travel.

More closures could be possible as the system moves through the state. Road conditions are updated 24/7 at 511.idaho.gov. Drivers are reminded to know before they go and visit the website or check the 511 app before traveling.

SH-21 in Boise County back open following avalanche

JAN. 16 AT 1:12 P.m.

State Highway 21 reopened on Jan. 15 after being closed for 90 hours. In total, three avalanches were triggered using explosives that the avalanche team set off, and it took eight hours to cleanup the snow. Drivers should check 511.idaho.gov or the 511 app for updates before traveling through the state.

JAN. 12 AT 12:57 P.m.

State Highway 21 will remain closed between Grandjean Junction and Banner Summit through the weekend following an avalanche that occurred Thursday evening.

Depending on weather, the Idaho Transportation Department’s avalanche team plans to drop explosives on Sunday within the 11 miles of avalanche paths along SH-21. These explosives will test the snowpack behavior. Once the team determines it to be stable, the Lowman maintenance team will begin cleanup.

At approximately 9 p.m. on Jan. 11, an avalanche closed part of SH-21. Four vehicles including one from the Custer County Sheriff’s Office were traveling through the avalanche-prone section at the time. A truck was pushed by the snow, but there were no injuries and no vehicles were buried. All occupants were able to get into the deputy’s vehicle and drive out of the area safely. A separate car, traveling in the opposite direction, tried to drive over the debris field and got stuck. ITD used a loader to get their vehicle out and back on the road in the opposite direction.

“Last night’s avalanche cycle was driven by a perfect storm of weather. We had very high precipitation intensity, increasing temperature and extremely high winds from the southeast. These are very unusual conditions for this zone,” said Bill Nicholson, leader of the avalanche team.

ITD’s avalanche team and Lowman maintenance crew have gone through avalanche rescue training.

“The number one thing to do if stuck in an avalanche zone is to never get out of your car,” Nicholson said. “It will protect you from being crushed by any additional snow or debris and makes it easier for rescuers to find you.”

There are only three highways in the United States that fall under the ‘High’ category in the Avalanche Hazard Index: SH-21 in Lowman, State Highway 210 in Utah, and U.S. Highway 550 in Colorado.

SH-21 is also closed between Idaho City and Lowman due to extreme weather. Check 511.idaho.gov for updates on this and other road closures.

Jan. 11 at 10:43 p.m.

The occupants of the two vehicles that were stuck in the avalanche on SH-21 have been safely transported out of the canyon, as the road remains closed between Grandjean Junction and Banner Summit. As safety is a top priority, all crews are headed out of the canyon for the night but will return in the morning. Updates will be provided once more information is available tomorrow. Drivers should check 511.idaho.gov or the 511 app for updates.

Jan. 11 at 9:37 p.m.

An avalanche has shut down State Highway 21 between Grandjean Junction and Banner Summit. Emergency crews are on scene and report that two vehicles were involved in the avalanche, but there are no reported injuries. Updates will be provided as soon as more information is known, which may be sporadic due to lack of cell service in the area.

ITD helps get life-sustaining heating fuel across restricted bridge

What do you do when a propane truck weighing twice as much as an old timber bridge is rated for needs to get across the bridge to deliver to a handful of people living on the other side who are completely dependent on that delivery to sustain warmth in winter? Recently, ITD was faced with that exact scenario on a bridge in North Idaho’s Boundary County with limited but important use for local access and recreation.

A consultant inspected the old timber bridge from 1960 and after finding significant rot, a weight restriction of 5 tons was placed on the crossing. However, residents living behind the bridge needed a propane truck delivery to supply their homes with heat. The loaded truck would far exceed the bridge’s weight restriction – it was twice as heavy as the posted limit!

So, ITD worked together with a bridge-design consultant to figure out how to get the truck across the bridge and back again without overloading the rotten timbers. ITD provided the county with specific directions on how to safely get the truck across the bridge. On Tuesday morning, December 12, the Boundary County Road & Bridge department was on hand at the bridge to assist the propane truck and act as spotters as it delivered propane under a special permit.

Road & Bridge Road Foreman Bradley Barton and crew member Kris Lummus set the cones to mark the travelway, and after checking the actual propane capacity to verify it was 40% or less, directed the truck back across the bridge very slowly — less than the required 5 mph. The crossing went well, and they waited on site for the propane to make deliveries to three residences and then did the same procedure for the truck coming back across.

“This is a good example of ITD helping in a way that most people are unaware of,” said Bridge Asset Management Engineer Alan Buehrig, who spearheaded the department’s response. “This was a great example of ITD going the extra mile to provide customer service to the county and Idaho citizens.”

Community invited to review options to improve State Highway 16 between Sh-44 and SH-52

The Idaho Transportation Department is holding a public meeting on Monday, December 4 in Ada County and Wednesday, December 6 in Gem County. The community is invited to learn about the project, give input on issues and concerns, and provide feedback on a range of plans to improve SH-16.

Details for the in-person meetings are listed below:

Monday, December 4 at Eagle Christian Church (100 S Short Rd, Eagle, ID 83616)
Wednesday, December 6 at Emmett High School (721 W 12th St, Emmett, ID 83617)
4:30 – 7 p.m. (drop in anytime)
Please join at whichever location is most convenient for you.

An online meeting will be available for those that are not able to attend the in-person meetings. The online meeting will be open from December 7 – 21 at itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/sh1644to52.

At the meetings, ITD will share details about:

The purpose and need for the environmental reevaluation.
Updated traffic and crash data information.
Modification to the 2005 preferred alternative.
The project timeline and next steps in the process.

“We look forward to sharing the range of modified improvement plans with the community and receiving their feedback,” said ITD Project Manager Mark Wasdahl. “Their input is very important to the reevaluation process and will help us moving forward.”

The SH-16, SH-44 to SH-52 project began in June 2023 and is expected to be complete in 2025. ITD has already met with numerous state and local agencies and property owners to identify concerns, discuss ongoing planning efforts and share information about the project.

To sign up for email updates or learn more about the project, please visit itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/sh1644to52.