East 1500 North Bridge over I-15 closed until further notice

Damaged girder on East 1500 North Bridge over I-15

The East 1500 North Bridge over Interstate 15 near Shelley will be closed until further notice. A vehicle travelling northbound on I-15 today struck the bridge causing significant damage to a girder. Traffic is currently detoured via South 45th West.

“We’ll have to keep the bridge closed until we can fully inspect the damage,” Operations Engineer Greydon Wright said. “Our bridge crew will come in to do the inspection and decide what work will need to be done to repair it.”

The incident also necessitated the closure of the right lane of northbound I-15 to allow crews to clean debris from the road and ensure the safety of the travelling public.

Travelers are reminded to know before they go and check 511.idaho.gov for traffic impacts.

ITD to host open house to solicit feedback on 2026 US-91 widening

The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) will hold an open house on Thursday, Nov. 2 from 4 to 7 p.m. to present preliminary plans for improvements along U.S. Highway 91 (Yellowstone Highway) between Park Lawn Drive and Siphon Road.

“This is an important project for the Chubbuck area,” Project Manager Kevin Sonico said. “These improvements will address the traffic growth in the area and make it safer for both drivers and pedestrians. We encourage everyone to stop by Chubbuck City Hall any time from 4 to7 p.m. on Thursday to learn more about the project. We’ll be ready to answer questions and collect comments.”

Plans include widening US-91 from three lanes to five lanes from Park Lawn Drive to Siphon Road. The project will also install a new signal and pedestrian facilities at the Siphon Road intersection. Lighting, curb, gutter, sidewalks and a shared-use path along the east side of US-91 will be constructed. In addition, the Chester Drain will be piped.

For those who cannot attend the public meeting on November 2, ITD will post meeting displays the following day on the project website itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/park-lawn-and-siphon for review through Nov. 16. If you have questions about the project, or would like to submit feedback, you can contact the project’s public involvement manager, Andrea Gumm, at agumm@jub.com or 208-870-8751.

ITD’s snow & ice team again best in nation!

Despite more competitors than ever before, the ITD maintenance team took home first-place honors at the Snow & Ice Conference and National Snow Roadeo for the second time in three years. They won it in 2021 and placed second nationally last year.

Winning the overall team award again in Colorado September 29 against 300 competitors from all across the country is impressive,” said ITD Chief Deputy and COO Dan McElhinney. “We are proud of our ITD maintenance roadeo team members for their commitment to skill excellence, work zone safety and representing Idaho as the best in the nation!”

The ITD team (pictured at right) featured Kyler Fullmer and Stacey McCurdy of District 6 (East Idaho), Jed Henderson of District 1 (North Idaho), and Brandon Steffens of District 5 (Southeast Idaho). These were also the top four finishers in the state roadeo competition held in July in Salmon, Idaho.

McCurdy, Henderson and Steffens were also on the team that won the national title in 2021.

“I would like to thank the participants,” said first-year roadeo coordinator Alan Huey. “They were proud to represent ITD and showcase the department’s commitment to safety and the skills that translate into service for Idaho’s drivers each winter.”

“The competition was tough, but the team delivered a top-notch performance.”

Each event featured loads of competitors — Single Axle had 53 participants, Grader had 58, Tandem Axle had 59, and Skid Steer had 69. The Loader event featured 100 participants!

“It’s great that we can come together as a team from all different districts to take first place again this year as an agency,” said D1’s Henderson, who made his third straight trip to nationals this year, and was also a part of ITD’s first title team in 2021. “Everyone performed so well, and I look forward to competing again next year.”

Henderson also expressed his appreciation to Kelley Dick, who is moving on from the roadeos next year after promoting to ITD Fleet Manager.

Nighttime detours planned for I-15/I-86 System Interchange next week

Overhead signage at the System Interchange

Beginning Monday and continuing through Wednesday, nighttime closures will be in place for a section of Interstate 15 and Interstate 86 at the System Interchange to allow crews to safely remove overhead signage.

One southbound lane will be closed on I-15, and the southbound ramp to I-86 will also be closed. Drivers looking to head west on I-86 will be detoured off the interstate at Northgate, west to State Highway 91, and then south to the Chubbuck Interchange. The closures will last from 9:30 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. each night.

Ongoing construction at the System Interchange will improve safety and mobility while replacing bridges built in the 1960s. Work is expected to be complete in 2025.

Motorists should exercise caution while travelling through the construction zone. Those wishing to receive email updates about the System Interchange project can sign up at https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/g9MMkN9.

Drivers can also check or download the 511 app for the last traffic conditions on all state highways and freeways.

Signal cabinets to be replaced in Soda Springs next week

Beginning Monday, September 18, and continuing through Thursday, September 21, the Idaho Transportation Department will replace old signal cabinets in Soda Springs. The cabinets control the operation of the lights and are more than 30 years old.

Cabinets will be replaced at the following intersections:

Hooper Avenue and Third East Street
Second South Street (U.S. Highway 30) and Third East Street
Second South Street (US-30) and Main Street.

Replacements are expected to take one day per signal, during which signal heads will be covered and stop signs placed to guide motorists. Stop signs will not be used on US-30 to keep highway traffic flowing.

When complete the signals will operate very similar to before, but a flashing yellow arrow will be available to allow drivers to make additional left turns. The flashing arrow indicates motorists turning left should yield to oncoming traffic until it is safe to turn.

Travelers are reminded to know before they go and check 511.idaho.gov or the 511 app for traffic impacts.

I-15/I-86 System Interchange daytime detour to continue Wednesday morning

POCATELLO – Due to recent inclement weather, the daytime closure of the north-to-west ramp at the System Interchange will continue into Wednesday. The additional time is needed to complete placement of the steel girders for new bridges.

Traffic will be directed to the Northgate Interchange, adding approximately five minutes to travel times. Drivers will exit at Northgate, cross over I-15, and then proceed south on I-15. The detour will be in place starting at 5 a.m. until work is be completed. The same detour has been in place for the last 3 weekdays.

Girders are horizontal steel beams designed to support the bridge deck. As the beams are placed over the northbound to westbound ramp it is necessary to close the roadway beneath for the safety of the travelling public.

Ongoing construction at the System Interchange will improve safety and mobility while replacing bridges built in the 1960s. Work is expected to be complete in 2025.

Motorists should exercise additional caution while travelling through the construction zone. Those wishing to receive email updates about the System Interchange project can sign-up at this link – https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/g9MMkN9. Drivers can also check or download the 511 app for the last traffic conditions on all state highways and freeways.

Daytime detour for I-15/I-86 System Interchange expected in the next week

POCATELLO – Drivers on I-15 northbound heading west on I-86 toward Chubbuck will be detoured several days in the next week as crews install girders at the System Interchange. Ongoing construction at the System Interchange will improve safety and mobility while replacing bridges built in the 1960s.

Girders are horizontal steel beams designed to support the bridge deck. As the beams will be placed over the northbound to westbound ramp it is necessary to close the roadway beneath for the safety of the travelling public.

Traffic will be directed to the Northgate Interchange, adding approximately five minutes to travel times. Detours are expected to be in place from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. the following days:

Thursday, Aug. 17
Monday, Aug. 21
Tuesday, Aug. 22

The detour through the Northgate Interchange will exit at Northgate, cross over I-15, and then proceed south on I-15.

Night Closures Planned for I-15 Northbound Lanes at Fort Hall Exit 80

POCATELLO – To facilitate construction of the new bridge at Fort Hall Exit 80 on I-15, night closures of the northbound lanes will occur tonight (Aug. 15), Wednesday Aug. 16, Monday Aug. 21 and Wednesday Aug. 23. During tonight’s construction forms will be placed from 9:30 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. The other three nights girders will be erected from 9:30 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Northbound traffic will be diverted over the old overpass.

Motorists should plan for delays and exercise additional caution while travelling through the construction zone. Check 511.idaho.gov or download the 511 app to your phone for the last traffic conditions.

I-15 resurfacing work to begin Monday north of Rose

POCATELLO – Beginning Monday August 7, the Idaho Transportation Department will be resurfacing Interstate 15 from the Rose Interchange 7 miles north to North Lava Rocks. Crossovers will be used to move traffic to the other side of the interstate while work is being done. Motorists should expect reduced speeds during construction. Construction will pause each Friday morning to accommodate weekend traffic.

Work will continue until September 1 when it will be paused for a week to accommodate increased traffic during the Eastern Idaho State Fair. Afterward the project will resume for four additional weeks.

Motorists should check https://511.idaho.gov or download the 511 app for the latest information on road construction.

ITD to begin night work on several Idaho Falls area roads from July 25 – August 18

IDAHO FALLS- The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) will begin micro-surfacing on several Idaho Falls area roads beginning Tuesday, July 25.

Micro-surfacing is a process that improves the surface of the road by sealing small cracks and surface imperfections, waterproofing the surface, and protecting the pavement structure. This will help extend the life span of the roads.

Traffic will be affected at the following roads:

South Yellowstone Highway from 65th Street to Sunnyside Road
Sunnyside Road from I-15 to South Yellowstone Highway
Broadway Avenue from Bellin Road to North Yellowstone Highway
North Yellowstone Highway from Lomax Avenue to Canal
North Holmes Avenue from North Yellowstone Highway to US-20

The roadways will be reduced to one lane in each direction from the hours of 8pm to 7am until the project is completed August 18.

Please remember to obey traffic laws, traffic signs, and construction signs.

For updates on traffic impacts on state highways and interstates, drivers should check 511.idaho.gov before traveling.

Photo: Street view Sunnyside Rd from I-15 to South Yellowstone Hwy