The Idaho Transportation Department will begin soil and rock sampling this June for a project to build a new bridge over the North Fork of the Payette River in Valley County. The project will address plans for the nearby Rainbow Bridge that has served Idaho travelers for nearly 100 years.
The sampling will require test drilling in 18 locations around the existing bridge. Preparations are expected to begin next week. Drivers can expect up to 15-minute delays on weekdays in June for the drilling and associated preparations. Work will stop for the weekend each Friday at noon.
Prior to the drilling, ITD will remove trees and vegetation near each drilling location to allow a helicopter to safely lower equipment. The ground will be re-seeded after drilling. Results will be used for designing the bridge foundation, supports and retaining walls along State Highway 55.
The current Rainbow Bridge was constructed in 1933 and no longer meets standards for state highway bridges. ITD began environmental and design work this spring for a new bridge adjacent to the current bridge. The project will include a decision about the future of the existing bridge.
“We intend to approach this project with a high level of transparency, sensitivity and community involvement,” ITD Resident Engineer Dan Gorley said. “Public input will be a key consideration in the final recommendation for the new bridge and the existing bridge.”
ITD will host community open houses and a stakeholder working group this July. Additional community involvement opportunities will be scheduled later this year. To request an invitation to future meetings, please email info@sh55rainbowbridge.com or visit itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/rainbowbridge.
The project is planned for construction in 2027 or 2028.
The closure planned at the Simco Road Interchange for last week has been rescheduled for today (June 3).
The westbound off-ramp of Interstate 84 at the Simco Road Interchange will be closed for construction today beginning at 6 a.m. and will reopen tomorrow. Vehicles using the westbound off-ramp will be rerouted to Mayfield (Exit 71).
At the end of this week, traffic on the eastbound lanes will shift to the left before Exit 71. The westbound lanes will remain open with intermittent daytime closures. The Simco Road Bridge 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 complete this summer.
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.
5/28/2024 Original Story
The westbound off-ramp of Interstate 84 at the Simco Road Interchange will be closed for construction tomorrow and will reopen Thursday. Vehicles using the westbound off-ramp will be rerouted to Mayfield (Exit 71).
At the end of next week, traffic on the eastbound lanes will shift to the left before Exit 71. The westbound lanes will remain open with intermittent daytime closures. The Simco Road Bridge 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 complete this summer.
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.
Collisions between vehicles and cattle along State Highway 51 is spurring an Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) employee to take action by repurposing unused signs into open range warnings.
Wilmer Biggs, a transportation technician with the Bruneau ITD maintenance crew, has seen firsthand the damage that can happen when vehicles collide with open range cattle. Biggs decided to transform advisory signs from a defunct federal radio alert system into flashing open range signs. To date, Biggs has converted nine signs along SH-51, spanning from the Nevada border to north of Bruneau. Biggs hopes to convert more in the future.
“These flashing signs are designed to grab the attention of travelers. It’s a win-win situation. Not only will it enhance safety for Idaho’s drivers, but it will reduce losses for our local farmers,” Biggs said.
Open range cattle can be found on SH-51 and other Idaho highways year round. Idaho is an open range state, meaning cattle and other livestock have the right of way. If livestock is hit on an open range, the owner of the animal is not liable for damages to the driver or the vehicle. Drivers may be liable for injuries or death of the animal if found to have been negligent.
It is that time of year again! The time when more motorcyclists are out on Idaho roads. May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month and to mark the occasion the Idaho Coalition for Motorcycle Safety (ICMS) is hosting a Motorcycle Awareness Rally on May 4.
Motorcycle riders are invited to join ICMS, the Idaho Office of Highway Safety (OHS), and partners for the event on Saturday, May 4, 2024, at Sandy Point in Lucky Peak State Park, 9723 ID-21, Boise, ID 83716. Motorcyclists can meet in the park starting at 10 a.m. An escorted ride from Sandy Point to the Idaho State Capitol starts at 1 p.m. Following the ride, the Christian Motorcycle Association is hosting a barbeque at Ann Morrison Park, 1000 S Americana Blvd, Boise, ID 83706.
“We want to remind the drivers out there that they are sharing the road with motorcyclists, who are more exposed than people in cars. Looking twice for motorcycles can save someone’s life,” explained ICMS rally organizer Lane Triplett.
According to OHS data, in 2022 there were 529 motorcycle-related crashes, and 29 motorcyclists were killed. Most fatalities that year were clustered in the months of June, July, and August. Drivers can help protect motorcyclists by:
Checking your blind spots. Motorcycles are small compared to other vehicles, so don’t rely on mirrors alone.
Always use your turn signals. Signaling helps motorcyclists anticipate traffic flow.
Look twice. Sun and rain glare can make motorcycles hard to see. Snow, rain, and fog can obscure your vision too. Always check twice for bikes.
Motorcyclists can protect themselves in the following ways:
Wear brightly colored, reflective clothing.
Ride with headlights on.
Establish lane positions that increase visibility – don’t ride in blind spots.
Enhance your skills. Idaho STAR (Skills Training Advantage for Riders) has classes across the state and for all experience levels.
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.
The Idaho Transportation Department 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.
This is a map to show the US-95 repaving project that will resume on April 22 2024
Construction season is a time that brings mixed feelings for a lot of Idaho drivers. While road construction leads to improved roads that benefit all Idahoans, work zones can be bothersome and even dangerous if drivers aren’t paying attention.
Today the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is joining with states across the country for National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW). From April 15-19, we raise awareness for the start of construction season and encourage safe driving through work zones.
“Driving cautiously in highway work zones helps families,” said ITD’s Chief Deputy/Chief Operations Officer Dan McElhinney. “Travelers, workers and their family members benefit when we reduce crash risks by safely driving with awareness. Employees are focused on road or bridge tasks to help improve the quality of life for Idahoans, and driver alertness near road work is how we help them. We encourage being an engaged driver to keep everyone work zone safe and for all of us to get home each day.”
Driving engaged, free from distractions and actively scanning the road ahead, is extra important in work zones due to narrowed lanes, traffic pattern shifts, and uneven road surfaces.
What many people fail to recognize is most people killed in work zone crashes are drivers and passengers. Idaho Office of Highway Safety (OHS) data shows that from 2018-2022 there were 3,315 crashes in work zones in Idaho. During that period 32 people were killed, all of them were in vehicles.
“When you’re behind the wheel of a vehicle, it is essential to remember that the workers in construction zones have families and friends who love them, and they have entire lives they’re living too,” said the Idaho Association of General Contractors in a statement. “Driving recklessly is selfish, and we all must do our part to ensure the safety of the hardworking members of our community out on the roads.”
In Southwest Idaho, there are several construction zones ongoing or planned to start this summer. Drivers should be aware of the following areas:
Advice for drivers as work zone season begins across the state:
Use Idaho 511 to check your route for work zones before you depart.
Slow down while traveling through work zones, paying close attention to signs and signals.
Pay close attention to road workers and flaggers – give them extra room, always slow when approaching them, and be prepared to stop if necessary.
Be aware of the other vehicles around you, including other cars and commercial vehicles that have larger blind spots and longer stopping distances.
Rear-end crashes are common in work zones – obey all speeds, avoid distractions, and always maintain extra space between your vehicle and the one in front of you.
Wear your seatbelt. While you may be driving carefully you can’t control the behavior of other drivers.
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.
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 at11665 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 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.
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 at11665 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: 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.
