Border Ops: ITD hosts Montana DOT for winter operations preview

A large group of Operations employees from ITD and MDT between vehicle with both state logos on them.

ITD, MDT, DOT, ISP- there were a lot of letters, different job titles and laughter floating around the Island Park shed recently, as the Idaho Transportation Department hosted the Montana Department of Transportation for a partnership lunch.

The Ellis and West Yellowstone maintenance sheds, and others from Montana Butte District 2, joined ITD Ashton/Island Park foreman Ryan Wright and his crews on Wednesday, November 5. Many ITD leadership, including District Engineer Jason Minzghor, Engineering Manager Karen Hiatt, Engineering Manager Bryan Young, and Operations Engineer Jeremie Pettingill, participated as well. Island Park-stationed Idaho State Police trooper Braiden Hill also joined the group.

The get-together served to allow Operations divisions to meet face to face and discuss ways both states can continue to help each other plow snow, respond to wildfire closures, and much more at the border of the two states. The lunch marked the first time that many of those in attendance had met in person before.

This past summer, many of them spoke often as State Highway 87 was closed for response to the Horn Fire that burned nearly 3,000 acres.

Through laughter and casual conversation over good food, along with professional exchanges and discussion, MDT and ITD folks left better prepared for the winter and year ahead.

The Island Park area and corridor of US-20 to West Yellowstone receives one of the greatest and longest lasting amounts of snow in Idaho. The routes attract a huge influx of year-round recreationists and are lifelines to communities in both states.

This partnership lunch will continue to be held annually, with ITD intending to travel to Montana’s turf next year.

Input sought on long-range planning for transportation in Idaho

People review a map of a proposed project

The Idaho Transportation Department is seeking input on long-range planning for transportation across the state through a series of public meetings in the next month.

Comments will inform the update to ITD’s Statewide Long-Range Transportation Plan, a federally required strategy document that is updated every five years and is used by the Idaho Transportation Board and planning staff as a guide to program future studies and projects.

Open houses will be held in each region of the state:

Nov. 18 in Pocatello at the Portneuf Medical Center (777 Hospital Way)

Nov. 19 in Idaho Falls at the Crosspoint Community Church (1900 Grandview Drive)

Dec. 2 in Coeur d’Alene at the Hampton Inn and Suites (1500 West Riverstone Drive)

Dec. 3 in Lewiston at the Lewiston Community Center (1424 Main Street)

Dec. 4 in Boise at Mountain View High School Library (2000 South Millennium Way)

Dec. 8 in Twin Falls at the College of Southern Idaho (315 Falls Avenue)

All events will take place 3 – 7 p.m. The same material will be shared online, with comments sought from Nov. 18 to Jan. 10.

ITD’s Long-Range Transportation Plan will look at the needs of the transportation network out to 2050 and consider a variety of factors including growth, travel demands, land use, safety, economic development, system reliability and anticipated revenue.

“This policy document looks at current conditions, existing plans and future trends in Idaho and lays the foundation for ITD to continue to deliver on our mission of safety, mobility and economic opportunity,” said Amy Schroeder, the division administrator for planning. “It’s not necessarily about identifying specific projects. It’s about determining, through data analysis and public input, the best strategy for investing in the transportation system given the variability of future revenue.”

The plan comes at a time of extraordinary growth and funding uncertainty. Besides seeking public feedback, ITD is engaging with other planning organizations as the plan will look at the transportation network as a whole, which extends beyond state-managed highways to locally owned routes and alternative modes of transportation.

“This is about working with local jurisdictions and planning agencies to address congestion in major cities,” Schroeder said. “It’s also about adopting a statewide perspective and recognizing that it’s just as important to look at improving safety and reducing fatalities in our rural areas.”

An additional public comment period to review the draft plan is planned for summer 2026, and the plan is expected to be released in 2027.

Popular ITD and ISP free winter driving classes across eastern Idaho start next week

PR East Idaho Free Winter Driving classes roadside view of icy road with a pickup and snowplow in the distance

Winter travel in Eastern Idaho means more than just tossing on a jacket before you go. The Idaho Transportation Department is teaming up again with Idaho State Police to offer free winter driving safety classes to help Eastern Idaho drivers be prepared for the reality that snow and ice changes everything.

Registration is now open for these popular, helpful sessions at the following places and dates:

IDAHO FALLS

Wednesday, November 5 @ 7 p.m.

Rocky Mountain Middle School, 3443 N Ammon Rd

REXBURG

Wednesday, November 12 @ 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.

BYU-Idaho Little Theater, Manwaring Center, 101 E Viking Street

No registration needed

POCATELLO

Tuesday, November 18 @ 5:30 p.m.

Chubbuck City Hall, 290 E Linden Ave.

RIGBY

Wednesday, December 3 @ 7 p.m.

ITD District 6 Office, 206 North Yellowstone

The classes are designed to help drivers prepare for Idaho’s winter conditions by covering topics like vehicle readiness, proper equipment, defensive driving techniques, and how to safely share the road with snowplows. Instructors include state troopers and ITD operators who bring firsthand experience from years of working on Idaho’s roads and responding to emergencies during severe weather.

While these classes are open to everyone of all ages and skill levels, they are especially valuable for:

Young drivers with limited winter driving experience
New drivers, including those preparing to start driver’s education in the next year
New residents facing their first Idaho winter

Participants who complete a class will receive a coupon for 10 percent off a new set of tires at any Les Schwab Tires location in Eastern Idaho from American Falls to St. Anthony. ITD and ISP extend a special thank you to Les Schwab for their partnership.

More information and direct links to these classes can be found on ITD’s website Travel page, itd.idaho.gov/travel.

ITD seeks public feedback to help shape the future of rail in Idaho

UPDATE: Some users are reporting issues submitting their responses and being unable to proceed past the second page. We recommend that respondents hit the next button at the bottom more than once. If that doesn’t work, we encourage users to sign up to receive a different format of the survey, which will be available the week of Nov. 3. We are working to resolve any technical issues in the meantime.

The Idaho Transportation Department is updating the Idaho Statewide Rail Plan and is asking for public input to help guide the future of rail infrastructure across the state.

The plan evaluates the current condition and performance of Idaho’s rail network, identifies system-wide challenges and opportunities, and outlines strategies to strengthen rail infrastructure. The plan will also explore key topics such as rail safety, grade crossings, and access for rail-served industries that help drive Idaho’s economy.

Unlike other statewide transportation plans, this plan does not allocate funding for specific projects. Instead, it provides a strategic foundation that supports future grant applications and coordination with the Federal Railroad Administration and other partners.

“We want to hear from Idaho communities about how rail infrastructure is working today and what improvements would make the biggest difference in the future,” Freight Program Manager Caleb Forrey said. “Your feedback will help us better understand statewide priorities and shape a plan that reflects Idaho’s needs.”

Railways in Idaho are operated by the private sector, with ITD having shared responsibility for safety at highway-rail crossings. As is the case with public transportation in Idaho, there are no dedicated state funding sources for freight or passenger rail beyond match funds for federally-funded improvements to rail crossings.

The online survey is open through November 12 and takes about five minutes to complete. Feedback collected will be summarized in the final plan, which is expected to be released in spring 2026, and used to guide discussions with communities, railroads, and state and federal partners.

A summary of the rail plan is available at itd.idaho.gov/planning.

Idaho state agencies collaborate to save time and money, accomplish missions

Workers from ITD and IDOC doing hazardous tree removal on SH-31, showing a loader hauling large logs and people on the ground on the roadway around the equipment.

State agencies in Idaho each handle their own areas of expertise, but not necessarily alone. It’s well known that Idaho State Police and Idaho Fish and Game work particularly close with the Idaho Transportation Department. Another partner you might not have realized is the Idaho Department of Correction.

Each summer ITD becomes one of the job alternatives for non-violent inmates in certain minimum-security facilities. In east Idaho, individuals at the St. Anthony Work Camp join ITD crews to accomplish tasks that are better completed with more hands to help. ITD then becomes their mentor for learning skills they’ll use forever.

“The whole idea behind the work camp is to give them skills that they can use to help them become effective pillars of society,” ITD Facilities Manager Korby Hansen said.

Inmates at St. Anthony Work Camp have various options of places they can work while at the facility. In east Idaho, ITD pays $50,000 to IDOC for two months of work from a ten-man crew and guard.

This summer, work camp crews, or “Red Shirts” as they’re often called, have assisted with bridge repairs in Ashton, hazardous tree removal on State Highway 31, fencing in Dubois, geological drilling efforts district wide, utility and landscaping improvements in Rigby and more.

“For just the hazardous tree work alone, if we were to hire privately, it would easily cost the district $250-300,000,” ITD Business Manager Jesse Olivas noted.

ITD submits the needs they have in eastern Idaho for the year to IDOC in advance of the working season. Those overseeing the program, like Olivas and Hansen, also attend a spring training where IDOC states the expectations for working with inmates.

From that point on, we schedule what gets done when and where over the course of the two months that the Red Shirts are committed. This allows all eight east Idaho foremen and others to utilize the extra hands efficiently.

“It would take just our crew months or years to get done what they helped us do in just a few weeks,” ITD Driggs area Operations Technician Ray McMinn said.

He and fellow crew member Kyler Fullmer worked together to advance the inmates’ sawyer certifications while working on SH-31 this summer. A flagger class was also offered for them to serve in that role while on ITD projects, as well as at jobs throughout the future after their sentence has been served.

“ITD gives them some real skills they can use when they return to the community,” this year’s IDOC Correctional Officer, who goes with and watches the inmates on all jobs, stated.

This dynamic partnership between IDOC and ITD is a great example of Idaho’s state agencies working together to substantially save money and accomplish their missions in the process.

SH-39 intersection project completing at American Falls

Work is wrapping up on the new intersection of Pocatello Avenue and State Highway 39 on the northeast side of American Falls. Construction is scheduled to be completed this Friday, minus the installation of a new traffic signal in the spring.

Motorists need to be aware of the new traffic pattern as they drive through the intersection. Traffic on SH- 39 will not need to stop to continue west or east. Traffic entering the intersection from Pocatello Avenue will have a stop sign. Those wishing to travel west on SH-39 will enter the center acceleration lane, speed up to match traffic, and then merge with westbound traffic.

The $3.5 million project redesigned the busy intersection to improve safety and address truck traffic backing up on SH-39 while waiting to turn.

Once the signal is installed next spring, lights will control traffic from all three directions.

For project updates and travel information, drivers can visit 511.idaho.gov or download the Idaho 511 app.

Lane closures on US-26 near Palisades begin Monday

Travelers on U.S. Highway 26 near the Wyoming border will see one lane-closures and temporary traffic signals in place beginning Monday. The restrictions will allow space for the Idaho Transportation Department and contractor partners to remove hazardous trees in the Palisades area.

These efforts will begin at the Wyoming border, then move west as far as possible through the fall until halting for the season on November 1.

US-26 in east Idaho is a main route to the Jackson Hole and Teton Valley areas, with frequent influx of recreational and tourist traffic. Temporary signals will be in place Monday – Friday in short work zones where active work is occurring and removed from the roadway during weekends. Delays are anticipated to be approximately 15-20 minutes.

Motorists can follow the status and location of this project and others across the state on the Idaho 511 app or at 511.idaho.gov.

Public invited to open house for proposed changes to US-20 west of Idaho Falls

Bus, equipment, commuter and recreational traffic all traveling on US-20 west of Idaho Falls toward the Twin Buttes.

The Idaho Transportation Department is hosting an open house next week to share proposed improvements to U.S. Highway 20 from Idaho Falls to Arco.

US-20 is one of the few highways that run east to west across the entire United States. This section is a vital route for commerce and the 6,000 eastern Idahoans who work at the Idaho National Laboratory.

Originally built in 1950, the roadway requires robust improvements to continue to serve motorists for years to come. The design proposes increasing safety by adding capacity, widening the road to two lanes in each direction starting at Idaho Falls and moving west. Widening will improve safety for freight, agricultural, recreational and commuter traffic where limited passing opportunities and lines of sight now exist.

Those attending the open house will have the chance to comment on these proposed designs, learn the project timelines and see how construction impacts are being mitigated.

Open house details:

Snake River Event Center at the Shilo Inn

780 Lindsay Blvd, Idaho Falls

Thursday, September 4

4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

For those unable to attend, an online option will be available September 4-18 at us20arcotoif.com.

“We know this route needs improvements and have been very focused on working towards them,” ITD District Engineer Jason Minzghor said. “We’re excited to get public input on the design and see construction happen in the very near future.”

Construction could begin as early as next summer due to additional funds dedicated to the Transportation Expansion and Congestion Mitigation program by Governor Little and the Idaho Legislature earlier this year. This bonding program enhances safety, improves mobility, further strengthens Idaho’s economy and positively impacts communities across the state for years to come.

US-20 traffic to shift as South St. Anthony Interchange nears completion

Road construction with closures and traffic shift on US-20 South St. Anthony interchange.

Beginning early this week, traffic on U.S. Highway 20 will be routed onto the newly built overpass bridge at South St. Anthony Exit 344. This marks the final stages of construction on a new full interchange at this location.

North and southbound motorists were previously routed onto the ramps while the overpass bridge was being constructed, with speed limits lowered to 35 mph. Traffic will now move to travel on mainline US-20 at a reduced work zone speed.

With this traffic shift, South St. Anthony ramps will be closed as work continues on 400 North under US-20. Workers and equipment will still be present on site, so drivers are urged to stay aware and be cautious.

This project is expected to be substantially complete later this summer, with the ramps and turning movements onto 400 North open then.

Funding for this project is assisted by Governor Little’s Leading Idaho Transportation Expansion and Congestion Mitigation (TECM) fund. The Leading Idaho initiative allows ITD to take a deliberate approach to invest in projects in corridors that will enhance safety, improve mobility, further strengthen Idaho’s economy, and positively impact communities across the state for years to come.

Updates on this project and others across Idaho can always be seen on the Idaho 511 app, or at 511.idaho.gov.

US-20 delays and slower speeds starting next week for INL paving operations

Graphic map of US-20 west of Idaho Falls indicating traffic movement changes near the junction of US-20, US-26 at the INL entrance.

The Idaho Transportation Department is partnering with the Idaho National Laboratory to alert motorists of changes to their commute beginning next week.

Starting Monday, paving operations within the INL site will limit usual turning movements at the Puzzle, the junction of US-20, US-26 and INL. During morning and overnight hours, traffic will be able to make right turns only off US-20 into the site.

From 4 to 6:30 p.m. traffic at the Puzzle will be restricted to outbound only movement, with no inbound turns allowed.

Speed will be reduced to 50 mph on US-20 near and through the Puzzle while this work is completed.

Both inbound and outbound site traffic will be able to access US-20 from an alternative route at West Portland Avenue, Gate Three, one mile west of the Puzzle. No dedicated turning lane exists on US-20 at this intersection, so motorists are urged to be alert and slow down.

Flaggers will be present as needed when INL paving work is near the intersections of US-20 or US-26. Traffic control signs and lower speed limits will not be in effect when work is not actively ongoing along these roadways.

INL paving operations are expected to be complete and traffic running as usual by late September.

INL employees should refer to internal communication regarding effects to their commute on roads within the site. Effects to US-20 and US-26 will be noted on the Idaho 511 app and at 511.idaho.gov.