Category: Southwest

The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is hosting two open houses to present alternative concepts as part of the State Highway 44, Interstate 84 to Star Road Project. The alternatives include designs along SH-44 in both downtown Middleton and at the Star Road Intersection.

Details for the open houses are below:

• Tuesday, Sept.10, at Middleton Middle School at 511 W Main Street in Middleton. 4:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. (drop in anytime)
• Wednesday, Sept. 11, at Star Fire Protection District at 11665 W State Street, Ste. B in Star. 4:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. (drop in anytime)

The same information will be available at both in-person open houses and online from Sept. 10-25 at: https://itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/sh44pel. The project team held four previous open houses in January and April.

“Public feedback and stakeholder input have proven crucial to identifying suitable alternatives so far. Incorporating this feedback with traffic data has narrowed the number of alternatives carried forward. We look forward to sharing these designs and engaging with the public as the project moves to the next step,” ITD Project Manager Mark Wasdahl said.

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

For details, assistance, or more information, you can reach the project team at info@idaho44corridor.com. Further project information can be found on the ITD project page.

The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) invites the public to learn about a pilot sign project on seven miles of State Highway 55/Eagle Road, from Interstate 84 to State Highway 44.

For more information and to submit feedback, visit the project website at https://itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/eagle-road-safety-corridor.

ITD will hold two public open houses for the Eagle Road Safety Awareness Pilot Project. These meetings are designed to engage the community and gather feedback on proposed safety enhancements along Eagle Road, Idaho’s busiest non-interstate highway.

Meeting details:

• Wednesday, Aug. 28 | 5 – 7 p.m. (drop in anytime) Community Planning Association of Southwest Idaho, 700 NE 2nd Street, Meridian, ID 83642
• Thursday, Aug. 29 | 5 – 7 p.m. (drop in anytime) Hilton Garden Inn, 145 E Riverside Drive, Eagle, ID 83616

With more than 60,000 vehicles a day, the two-year pilot project includes adding new warning signage and speed feedback signs this fall to aid drivers, possibly installing congestion variable speed zone signs next year, and the removal of these four mid-block left-turns to help reduce crashes on SH-55:
• Southbound left-in at Meadowdale Street
• Northbound left-in Baldcypress Street
• Southbound U-turn near Ustick Road
• Northbound left-in at Lanark Street

Update Aug. 23, 2024 – The State Highway 21 closure has been expanded from Sourdough Lodge to Stanley (MP 84 to 130) due to wildfire activity from the Wapiti Fire. Only local traffic is permitted between the Sourdough and Warm Springs Airstrip. There is no public access from the highway to surrounding areas including Grandjean, Bull Trout, Cape Horn, Boundary Creek, or Seafoam.

Traffic to/from the Stanley area can use State Highway 75 as an alternate route. Access to local businesses in Lowman and Stanley remains open at this time. Please check with the Boise and Sawtooth National Forests for area closure information. Please check with the Boise and Custer County Sheriffs’ Offices for local road closures and evacuation orders.

There is no estimate on when SH-21 will reopen. Fire information can be found on the National Interagency Fire Center’s website.

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Update Aug. 22, 2024 – State Highway 21 remains closed from Warm Springs Creek to Stanley (MP 92 to 130) due to wildfire activity from the Wapiti Fire. There is currently no public access to the Grandjean area, as the fire’s currently burning on both sides of the highway. Motorists planning to travel between Boise and Stanley must take an alternate route through Ketchum on State Highway 75. There is no estimate for when the road will reopen as fire activity remains unpredictable at this time.

If you are traveling on SH-21, please stay alert for increased fire traffic. It’s crucial not to slow crews down as they work to manage the fire. Avoid traveling to closure points to wait. For your safety, check 511.idaho.gov before you go!

Fire information can be found on the National Interagency Fire Center’s website.

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Aug. 20, 2024 – The Wapiti Fire burning in the Boise National Forest has forced the closure of State Highway 21 near Grandjean. Motorists planning to travel between Boise and Stanley will need to take an alternate route through Ketchum on State Highway 75. There is no estimate for when the road will reopen.

The Wapiti Fire is 10% contained and has burned more than 9,000 acres. The Idaho Transportation Department encourages all drivers to check 511.idaho.gov for current conditions on your route.

Here are some additional safety tips for traveling in areas with wildfires:

• Power outages are common near wildfires. Treat non-working traffic signals as four-way stops.
• Bring additional food and water in case your trip is delayed.
• Driving in smoke is similar to driving in heavy fog. Slow down, maintain a steady pace, and stay alert.
• Turn on headlights when driving in smoky areas.
• The safest place to wait for a highway to reopen is at home.  Avoid traveling to closure points to wait, as closures could last for days.

Fire information can be found on the National Interagency Fire Center’s website.

Fire prevention efforts between the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) continue to reduce the number of large human-caused fires along the Interstate 84 corridor from Boise to Mountain Home.

The ITD Mountain Home maintenance crew is actively mowing the I-84 shoulders, median, and gores along the popular route. Once completed, they’ll have mowed more than 400 miles of vegetation, covering 64 miles of roadway. Typically, the crew stops south of Boise; however, the BLM Boise District provided a third tractor to cover more ground, so this year ITD will reduce fire fuels up to Gowen Road. The four-person team, which includes three on mowers and one in a water truck, expects to have the corridor mowed this week.

“I have been mowing this corridor for five years, and I enjoy doing it because we’re making the area safer for both the community and travelers. The additional equipment has helped us mow more ground efficiently and effectively,” Mowing Team Lead Jake Kuecker said.

Historical data highlights the significance of these efforts. During the late 1900s and early 2000s, there was a steady increase in wildfires along the I-84 corridor. These fires were often large and difficult to suppress, making the area one of the largest wildfire hotspots in the country.

By 2013, the BLM Boise District, in partnership with ITD, fully implemented a fuel break strategy along the I-84 corridor. This included mowing, constructing fuel breaks, and improving roadway aprons. Those efforts, along with ongoing fuel reduction measures like mowing, have reduced the average fire size by 95% over the past seven years, despite a 30% increase in traffic flow.

 

 

7/25/2024 7:00 a.m. update: Rain helped the firefighting effort. Interstate 84 is currently open.

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7/24/2024 1:00 p.m. update:  Large commercial traffic is restricted until further notice on State Highway 71 between Cambridge and the Oregon state line due to fire activity.  Using SH-71 to access Oregon is not a suitable detour for interstate trucks. SH-71, between Cambridge and the Oregon state line, is narrow and winding. To maintain traffic flow and ensure safety, non-essential commercial vehicles over 26,000 pounds are now prohibited from using this route.

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7/24/2024 12:30 p.m. update: I-84 is closed due to fire activity.  The fire has reached I-84 and it is not safe for travelers. Fire officials do not want people to travel to Ontario to wait. The fire is expected to grow as winds are forecasted in the area, there’s no estimate on when it will reopen.
Consider alternative travel options and for the latest information, keep an eye on TripCheck or Idaho 511.

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7/24/2024 9:30 a.m. update: The I-84 corridor has reopened, but due to the unpredictable nature of wildfires, travelers should be prepared for potential closures and are advised not to rely on this route.

Idaho travelers are urged to use 511.idaho.gov for traffic impacts.

Oregon travelers are urged to use Tripcheck.com for up-to-date information.

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This information is from the Oregon Department of Transportation

PENDLETON – If you plan to travel across Oregon in the coming days, make sure you carefully plan your route. I-84 and many other highways in eastern Oregon may be closed or unreliable due to wildfires. With a long hot summer ahead, other fires and closures throughout the state are likely.

Wildfires are unpredictable and we have no estimate on opening times for any fire-impacted highways. Previous plans for a nighttime only closure of I-84 to remove brush along the highway were upended when the fire quickly reached the highway. Fire crews are actively fighting fire from I-84.

Travelers should use U.S. 20 to move east or west across central and eastern Oregon. If you must travel, consult Tripcheck.com and check conditions for your route. Here are some other tips while traveling in wildfire season:

• Do not follow GPS directions or detour on local or forest roads. These roads are not suitable for interstate traffic. If a highway is closed on Tripcheck.com, it is likely that nearby local roads will be closed as well.
• Expect power outages near wildfires. Treat non-working traffic lights like a four-way stop. Roadside message boards and Tripcheck cameras may also be out in these areas.
• Carry extra supplies including food and water in case your trip is delayed.
• Driving in smoke is like driving in heavy fog. Slow down but keep a steady pace and stay alert. Slow driving gives you more time to respond to unexpected conditions.
• Turn on headlights when driving in smoky areas.
• The best place to wait for a highway to open is at home. Do not travel to the closure points and wait as closures could last for days.

Fire information can be found on the National Interagency Fire Center’s website. 

The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) will intermittently close 10th Avenue under Interstate 84 in Caldwell beginning on Monday.  These closures are necessary for crews to safely demolish the westbound lanes of the I-84 bridge. The intermittent closures will occur through September.

Motorists can expect:

• 10th Avenue will close during weekdays and may reopen on weekends.
• Traffic will detour to Centennial Way. Click here to see a detour map.
• Pedestrians will be detoured to the pedestrian overpass over I-84. Click here to see a detour map.
• Access to businesses will remain open, but routes may change during the closures.
• After 10^th Avenue reopens, crews plan to restrict it to one lane in each direction until next year.

Crews will demolish the westbound side of the bridge section by section, which will take several weeks to complete. Closing 10^th Avenue will give crews the space they need to bring multiple pieces of equipment in and out of the work zone safely.

“This closure will help us complete the bridge demo as quickly as possible while keeping the traveling public safe,” Resident Engineer Styles Salek said. “We will do everything we can to re-open 10th Avenue quickly, and we thank everyone for their patience in the meantime.”

This bridge demolition is part of ITD’s I-84 Centennial Way to Franklin Road project, which is widening the interstate to three lanes in each direction, replacing the 10th Avenue Interchange and adding a soundwall along Hannibal Street from 10^th Avenue to Centennial Way. This project is expected to be completed in 2027.

For more information about the project and to stay updated on closure dates:

• Visit: itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/I-84-corridor
• Text: Click here or text 84CORRIDOR to 1-866-483-8422
• Email: Click here or email 84CORRIDOR@itd.idaho.gov
• Call: (208) 334-8002

Please use caution when driving through the work zone. To plan your route in advance, visit 511.idaho.gov.

 

 

The Idaho Transportation Department will host community open houses next week to gather early input about a project to build a new bridge over the North Fork of the Payette River in Valley County. Nearly a century after its construction, the current Rainbow Bridge no longer meets current standards for highway bridges.

Open houses will be located both north and south of the bridge. Community members may stop by at their convenience to learn about the project and provide input.

• Tuesday, July 23: 4-7 p.m. at the Evergreen Hotel (210 N. 3^rd St., McCall)
• Thursday, July 25: 4-7 p.m. at the Horseshoe Bend School (398 School Rd., Horseshoe Bend)
• Online, July 23-Aug. 9 at itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/rainbowbridge

“ITD recognizes the Rainbow Bridge’s significance to Idaho residents and travelers,” said ITD District 3 Engineer Jason Brinkman. “Feedback from the community will be essential as we design the new bridge and make decisions about the existing bridge.”

Additional public meetings will be held as the design process continues. In addition, a Bridge Involvement Group will meet on July 17 from 4-6 p.m. at the American Legion Post (105 W. Mill St.) in Cascade. The Bridge Involvement Group is open to community members who are willing to invest a higher level of time and engagement during the design process.

The existing Rainbow Bridge was completed in 1933. Environmental and design work for a new bridge began this spring. Construction is currently proposed for 2028 or 2029.

To learn more about the Rainbow Bridge project, visit itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/rainbowbridge, call (208) 391-6580 or email info@sh55rainbowbridge.com.