The eastbound on-ramp and off-ramp on Interstate 84 at the Simco Road Interchange (Exit 74) will be closed for construction beginning Monday and will not reopen until late August. Vehicles using these ramps will be rerouted through Mayfield (Exit 71). This closure is necessary in order for crews to pave and stripe the new ramps.
The Simco Road Bridge over the freeway will remain open as one lane. Drivers can expect reduced speeds when approaching the interchange.
Construction began in July 2023 to replace the bridge over I-84, originally built in 1959. Work is expected to be completed this fall.
The Idaho Transportation Department reminds drivers to be patient, slow down and obey all posted signs in the construction zone. Travelers should check 511.idaho.gov before driving in the area.
The eastbound on-ramp and off-ramp on I-84 at the Simco Road Interchange (Exit 74) will be closed for construction starting Monday and will not reopen until late August.
The Idaho Transportation Department advises motorists to plan for nighttime Interstate 84 eastbound and westbound closures on Monday and Tuesday between the Garrity Boulevard and Ten Mile Road interchanges (Exits 38 and 42).
Crews are stripping framework and installing overhead sign foundations at the future interchange of State Highway 16 and I-84. One direction of I-84 will be closed each night during this work.
July 8:
Westbound I-84 will be closed between the Ten Mile (Exit 42) and Garrity (Exit 38) interchanges from 10 p.m. Monday night to 6 a.m. Tuesday morning. Click here for the detour map.
July 9:
Eastbound I-84 will be closed between the same interchanges from 9 p.m. Tuesday night to 5 a.m. Wednesday morning. Click here for the detour map.
The speed limit will be reduced to 45 mph at night.
The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is seeking feedback on the just-released draft Idaho Transportation Investment Program (ITIP). The ITIP outlines the state’s transportation priorities and guides investment decisions for the next seven years through 2031. ITD encourages everyone to review the draft and provide comments July 1-31.
Transportation projects included in the draft ITIP range from large-scale interstate improvements to smaller projects like the installation of new guardrail. Projects are located throughout Idaho’s 44 counties and involve all modes of transportation. Project selection is determined through technical data, as well as input from local officials and residents.
This draft ITIP shows plans for $6.9 billion in funding, including $200 million dedicated to pavements and $100 million dedicated to bridges each year.
Chief Deputy Director Dan McElhinney confirmed, “With the growth of traffic accelerating the need for improvements and the impacts of inflating costs since 2020, the added annual investment in highway pavement and bridge repairs proposed in this draft ITIP plan will provide the Idaho Transportation Board effective options to consider looking ahead for Idaho.”
Paper copies of the ITIP will be available at regional offices and provided upon request by contacting the Idaho Transportation Department at 208-334-4455.
All comments will be reviewed and incorporated into the ITIP where appropriate. Responses will be sent by September.
After approval by the Idaho Transportation Board in September, the ITIP will then be submitted to the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Transit Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency in October.
Public input is crucial in ensuring that the ITIP includes the prioritized needs of Idaho’s communities.
The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is performing maintenance work this summer on five Boise bridges along the Connector (Interstate 184). Crews will start work on the I-184 bridge over Chinden Boulevard on Monday.
The bridges included in this project are:
Curtis Road Interchange
Fairview Avenue eastbound on-ramp over I-184
Orchard Street Bridge
I-184 over Chinden Boulevard
Boise River Bridge
Crews will apply epoxy overlays to seal the driving surface, patch and repair bridge decks, and perform joint work to enhance safety and extend the service life of each bridge. The specific work will vary depending on the bridge. The project is expected to be complete this fall.
Motorists should expect lanes and ramps along I-184 to be restricted or closed overnight and speed limits to be reduced. Check 511.idaho.gov to plan your route in advance.
To learn more about the project or sign up for construction updates, visit the project website at itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/boisebridges, call (208) 391-2979, or text BOISEBRIDGES to 1-866-483-8422.
Five bridges on I-184 will be under construction beginning on Monday 6/21/2024
Idaho drivers are urged to plan ahead when traveling north of Eagle this summer as the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is advancing several projects along State Highway 55. These projects include lane closures and reduced speeds in various locations between Eagle and New Meadows.
“Each of these projects is intended to improve traffic flow and safety along this regional route. We look forward to a safer, smoother State Highway 55 after these projects are complete,” District 3 Engineer Jason Brinkman said.
The projects include:
Little Goose Creek Bridge (Construction: June 2024 – late 2024)
ITD will begin replacing the Little Goose Creek Bridge today along SH-55 near Last Chance Campground in New Meadows. SH-55 will be reduced to one lane in the area with flaggers and a traffic signal during construction. Drivers should expect delays. Learn more and sign up for construction updates on the project website.
SH-55 Smiths Ferry to New Meadows chip seal (Construction: July 2024 – fall 2024)
This July ITD will start applying a chip seal to several areas of SH-55 between Smiths Ferry and New Meadows. This project will extend the life of the pavement. The highway will be reduced to one lane with pilot cars where crews are working. Drivers should expect delays. In order to see where crews are working, travelers should sign up for updates on the project website.
Rainbow Bridge (Design: 2024-2026)
ITD is currently conducting soil and rock sampling in the area of the Rainbow Bridge for a project to build a new bridge over the North Fork of the Payette River in Valley County. Drivers can expect 15-minute delays on weekdays in June. To learn more about the project visit itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/rainbowbridge.
SH-55 DMS Sign (Construction: fall 2024)
ITD will install a dynamic message sign on SH-55 between Round Valley and Cascade. The new message board will notify motorists of detours or incidents along SH-55. Minimal delays expected. Any traffic impacts during the installation will be posted at 511.idaho.gov.
Flaggers will direct traffic at the Banks-Lowman intersection on all Sundays in July. The project team is planning to install an interim traffic signal at the busy intersection later this year.
SH-55 Fleming Creek Bridge Replacement (Construction: fall 2024 – late 2025)
This fall ITD will begin replacing the Fleming Creek Bridge on SH-55 approximately four miles south of Banks. SH-55 will be reduced to one lane in the work zone with speed limit reductions during the week. Details will be posted to itdprojects.idaho.gov later this summer.
SH-55 State Street to Horseshoe Bend Rehabilitation (Construction: fall 2023 – fall 2024)
ITD is milling and resurfacing SH-55 between State Street in Eagle and Horseshoe Bend. Work is expected to be complete this fall. Details are available on the project website. Drivers are encouraged to slow down in the work zone as there have been too many close calls with flaggers.
It’s important for motorists to plan ahead this summer by checking traffic impacts on their route at 511.idaho.gov.
The Idaho Transportation Department is advancing several projects this summer along State Highway 55 north of Boise.
The Idaho Transportation Department is applying a hot chip seal to more than 100-lane-miles in the heart of Boise with minimal impact to drivers, as the work will all be done at night. This new innovative approach to chip sealing highlights ITD’s dedication to embracing new technologies that lessen impacts to users.
Unlike a regular chip seal, the hot chip seal on this project allows all work to be conducted at night. Traditional chip seal uses oil heated to around 150 degrees that can be applied during daytime high temperatures. Hot chip seal requires oil to be heated to 300 degrees so it can be applied during nighttime lows. Another key advantage is that drivers can use the roadway within 30 minutes of chip sealing, compared to the 24-hour wait required by regular chip seals. This high-temperature process not only extends the pavement’s service life but also minimizes disruptions to businesses and motorists.
Crews are beginning work on Broadway Avenue tomorrow, followed by State Street between State Highway 16 and Linder Road, and Chinden Boulevard. Work is weather dependent and can change. The project is expected to finish late summer of this year.
During construction motorists can expect:
Work on one section of road at a time
Nighttime work from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Access to residences and businesses will be maintained at all times
Lane closures, with at least one lane open in each direction
Shifting traffic patterns
Flaggers in the roadway
Speed limits reduced
In anticipation of this project, last summer ITD applied the first ever hot chip seal on two miles of State Highway 21 to ensure results could be replicated in a busier environment. These projects are the first in the state to use this process.
Those who are interested in learning more about the project are encouraged to sign up for email updates by visiting itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/adachipseal.
As Idaho’s population continues to grow, the strain on its mountainous highways becomes increasingly apparent during the summer months, particularly at the intersection of State Highway 55 and Banks Lowman Road. To tackle this, the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is implementing short-term measures while working on a long-term solution.
ITD is advancing a plan to install an interim traffic signal this year at the SH-55, Banks Lowman Road intersection. Currently, the project team is engaged in material testing, environmental work, site design and stakeholder collaboration.
In tandem with the temporary signal, ITD will begin designing a comprehensive intersection plan during the next few years. The design process will include bridge widening and road expansion to accommodate a final signal for increasing traffic demands. There is currently no funding for construction.
Until the interim signal is operational later this year, flagging at the intersection will occur during peak travel periods this summer beginning on Father’s Day. The 2024 flagging season is as follows:
Father’s Day
All Sundays in July
First Sunday in August
Second Sunday in August
Labor Day
ITD encourages those who travel on the weekends along this corridor to always plan ahead. Consider leaving earlier or later to avoid the heaviest travel times and make sure to check 511.idaho.gov before you go.
The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is asking drivers to slow down and watch for construction crews on State Highway 55 south of Horseshoe Bend due to recent dangerous driver behavior in the area.
“There have been a couple of close calls in the work zone with drivers ignoring the flagging crews and the posted speed limit. Safety is our highest priority, so we really need people driving in the area to pay attention,” Project Manager JD Lewelling said.
Ongoing work includes milling and resurfacing the roadway for a smoother driving experience. Safety improvements include replacing guardrail, as needed, throughout the project area.
Construction activity is currently focused on the highway approximately four miles north of Avimor to just south of the Payette River Bridge in Horseshoe Bend. The project also includes constructing a bridge to convey both vehicle and pedestrian traffic under SH-55 at the north end of Avimor. This work is being funded by Avimor.
ADA improvements at SH-55 intersections with Hill Road, Floating Feather Road, and Beacon Light Road will be completed later this summer.
Construction is expected to be complete by this fall.
The Idaho Transportation Department will begin the first of three ramp closures tonight along Interstate 84 and Interstate 184 to resurface damaged pavement. These closures are necessary for the safety of the paving crew.
To minimize traffic impacts, ITD will conduct nighttime paving on all the ramps. Each closure will begin at 8 p.m. and will reopen to traffic the following day by 5:30 a.m. Traffic control measures will be in place prior to any closures. The scheduled ramp closures, which are weather dependent, are as follows:
June 10: I-84 Garrity Boulevard eastbound on-ramp (Exit 38)
June 11: I-84 Garrity Boulevard westbound off-ramp (Exit 38)
June 12: I-184 Franklin-Milwaukee outbound ramp (Exit 1A)
“A typical pothole patch can last for months to a year. The work we do with this paver will last more than three years. This not only reduces the need for frequent repairs, but also lessens the impact on drivers,” New Meadows Mechanic Randy Smith said.
Drivers are encouraged to use the Idaho 511 system by phone, online, or through the app for updated closure information.
ITD will begin the first of three ramp closures tonight along Interstate 84 and Interstate 184 to resurface damaged pavement. These closures are necessary for the safety of our paving crew.
A major traffic shift will begin Saturday as the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) prepares to widen westbound Interstate 84 between the Centennial Way and Franklin Road interchanges.
All traffic will shift to the eastbound lanes between the Centennial Way and Franklin Road interchanges. The traffic shift will be completed over two weekends in June. Motorists should anticipate I-84 ramp closures, detours and lane restrictions. These new traffic patterns will remain in place until summer 2025.
Once the traffic shift is complete motorists can expect:
All lanes of I-84 will be on the eastbound side. Two lanes will be open in each direction, but lanes will be narrower.
Traffic will use temporary off-ramps at Centennial Way and 10th Avenue (Exits 27 and 28). Temporary ramps will be shorter and may have fewer lanes than current ramps.
Frontage Road and Hannibal Street will be reduced to one-way traffic with flaggers.
Intermittent closures on 10th Avenue will begin in July.
The pedestrian overpass over I-84 will be closed and detoured to 10th Avenue in late summer.
This project will increase capacity and improve traffic flow for years to come.
A major Interstate 84 traffic shift will begin on Saturday June 8 as ITD prepares to widen westbound I-84 between the Centennial Way and Franklin Road interchanges.
