The Idaho Transportation Department would like to share information regarding tree removal along highways in Idaho.
The current tree clearing you may see in various locations along state routes is part of an ongoing hazard tree removal effort as part of our maintenance program to improve safety.
We prioritize removal based on the below safety benefits:
- Visibility: Clearer sightlines mean drivers can spot wildlife or obstacles sooner.
- Clear zone: Removing obstacles like trees from the clear zone around highways makes it more likely that any drivers who leave the roadway have a better chance of safely recovering and making it back to the road.
- Winter driving safety: More sunlight reaches the road surface, reducing icy conditions and the risk of black ice.
- Roadway safety: Reduces the risk of falling trees on the roadway.
- Wildfire preparedness: Removing trees near the road creates natural firebreaks that can serve to help slow or stop wildfires.
ITD is not just focusing on tree removal within our own right of way but also proactively engaging other public agency partners, such as the U.S. Forrest Service and Idaho Parks and Recreation, to bring these safety benefits along more of our highways.
In instances where there is a need to address trees on private property we work collaboratively with property owners and get express permission before proceeding with tree removal. We do not remove trees on private land without permission.
It’s also important to understand that not all tree removal you may see along highways is being performed by ITD. Private property owners and timber operations often conduct logging or thinning near roadways, and while we require permits for any work within our right of way that we are not initiating, many of these operations happen entirely on private land.
We understand that Idahoans value our outdoor spaces and the area’s natural beauty. Every decision we make on hazard trees is made with the intent of saving lives.
We’re committed to being transparent about our work and welcome any questions from the public. The public can always reach out directly to ITD for accurate information from district representatives.
Starting tonight the contractor will return to Chinden Boulevard to address the limited sections from last year’s chipseal project that did not meet ITD standards. Repairs will protect the driving surface and extend the life of the roadway.
Between Glenwood Street and Eagle Road, the highway will receive a thin asphalt overlay resurfacing. From Eagle Road to Linder Road, pavement sealer will be sprayed on to the road to protect it, and lines will be freshly painted.
Work will be done at night from 7:30 p.m. to 5 a.m. to minimize impacts to travelers. One lane will be closed in each direction at night for up to six weeks. All lanes will be open during the day when crews are not on site.
Travelers should check 511.idaho.gov to know before they go.
Daytime intermittent closures on U.S. Highway 95 between Moscow and Lewiston near Thorn Creek/ Uniontown Cutoff will be in effect next Wednesday and Thursday, May 28 and 29, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. while the Idaho Transportation Department is installing new bridge girders at the Thorn Creek Bridge.
The bridge will fully close to both north and southbound traffic while each girder is installed. Girders are the large horizontal beams that will support the new bridge deck being constructed this summer.
Flaggers will be present to allow traffic to pass one direction at a time between each girder installation. Motorists are encouraged to seek an alternative route to avoid delays.
This work at Thorn Creek Bridge is part of a large-scale project improving safety along US-95 from Lewiston to Moscow. Portions of this project are funded as part of Idaho Governor Brad Little’s Leading Idaho transportation funding initiative. These funds are used to make investments in critical state infrastructure to enhance safety, mobility and to sustain Idaho’s strong economy into the future.
Digital message boards are currently in place to alert drivers of these closures next week. Updates can also be found on the Idaho 511 app and at https://511.idaho.gov/.
The Idaho Transportation Department will begin major work next week on the future State Highway 16 and Ustick Road Interchange. Starting Tuesday, May 27, Ustick Road will be closed from Owyhee Storm Avenue to McDermott Bypass until late August.
Motorists can expect that:
- Ustick Road will be closed between Owyhee Storm Avenue and McDermott Bypass.
- Traffic will be detoured around the work zone. Click here for the detour map.
- Access to homes within the closure will be maintained.
- Temporary traffic signals will be in place at the Cherry/McDermott and Ustick/Can-Ada intersections as requested by ACHD and the city of Nampa.
The closure will give crews room to widen Ustick Road immediately around the interchange and connect the on- and off- ramps for the interchange.
“Our goal is to complete as much work as possible while schools are out of session,” Project Manager Dan Gorley said. “We look forward to the completion of this interchange, and we thank the community for their patience during construction.”
The Ustick Road Interchange is anticipated to be completed in 2027. Intermittent lane closures will continue in the area over the next year.
Stay informed about State Highway 16 construction by signing up for email and text alerts. Text HIGHWAY16 to 1-866-483-8422 or visit itdprojects.org/sh16corridor to see a map of work in the area.
For questions, contact the project team at (208) 334-8008.
The Idaho Transportation Department will begin a road resurfacing project on five miles of U.S. Highway 95 in and around the city of Cambridge on May 27. The project is designed to extend the life of the roadway, improve ride quality, and enhance safety for drivers and pedestrians.
Motorists should expect delays in the area as crews will close one lane at a time during daytime hours, Monday through Friday, with no work scheduled on weekends or holidays. Flaggers and pilot cars will guide traffic safely through the work zone.
This project includes:
- Resurfacing the roadway with a mill and inlay to extend the life of the pavement and improve ride quality for drivers.
- Slope repairs to address soil instability south of the Cambridge city limits. This work will begin immediately and require a lane closure controlled by a temporary traffic signal. This closure will be in place less than two weeks.
- Sidewalk pedestrian ramp replacements to improve accessibility and safety for pedestrians.
The speed limit will be reduced through the work zone for the safety of workers and travelers. This project is expected to be complete by mid-July.
ITD encourages drivers to plan ahead and use caution in construction areas. For the latest updates on road conditions and detours, visit 511.
Starting next week, drivers should expect lane closures on Interstate 84 between Malta/Yale (Exit 228) and Idahome (Exit 237) as crews perform chip sealing to preserve and extend the life of the roadway. A short section of Interstate 86 near the interchange will also be included in the project.
Traffic will be reduced to a single lane in both directions during the two-week operation. On- and off-ramps within the work zone will also be chip sealed. While no ramps will be fully closed, half of each ramp will be closed at a time to allow traffic to continue flowing.
Speed limits will be reduced to 55 mph on the mainline and 35 mph on ramps during construction. Drivers are urged to allow extra time and avoid following other vehicles too closely to prevent windshield damage.
For updates, visit 511.idaho.gov.
The on-ramp to head east on Interstate 84 at the Burley Interchange will close for the week starting Monday morning for repaving.
The closure will be in place from 6 a.m. Monday (May 19) to 11 p.m. Friday (May 23). To head east on the freeway, drivers will be detoured to the nearest on-ramp about five miles to the east at the Heyburn Interchange (Exit 211).
Drivers will still be able to head west on I-84 from the Burley Interchange. Traffic on I-84 remains two lanes in each direction, and the speed limit is reduced to 65 miles per hour in the work zone.
Construction has been underway since 2024 to update the Burley and Heyburn Interchanges to meet growing traffic demands and is funded as part of Idaho Governor Little’s Leading Idaho transportation funding initiative. The Leading Idaho initiative allows ITD to take a deliberate approach to advance large projects that will enhance safety, improve mobility, further strengthen Idaho’s economy, and positively impact the Magic Valley and communities across the state for years to come.
To learn more about the project, please visit itdprojects.idaho.gov/projects/i-84-burley-and-heyburninterchanges. This closure and others will be posted to 511.idaho.gov.
REXBURG—The Idaho Transportation Department, in partnership with Union Pacific Railroad, will close highways near several railroad crossings in May.
State Highway 33 from Rexburg to Sage Junction will close Monday through part of Tuesday as needed (May 19-May 20) as Union Pacific Railroad replaces crossings along this route. Motorists can take State Highway 48 to Roberts and Interstate 15 to Sage Junction as an alternative.
SH-48 through the town of Roberts will close through the weekend of May 31-June 3 as three parallel railroad crossings and paving are conducted there as well. I-15 can be accessed at the Osgood Interchange south of Roberts as an alternative.
Digital message boards will be in place along both routes prior to these closures to give motorists advance warning time for making alternative travel plans. Updates regarding these closures will be posted on the Idaho 511 app and at 511.idaho.gov.
Extended ramp closures and traffic changes will begin on I-84 this month as the Idaho Transportation Department nears the halfway point of a major interstate reconstruction in Caldwell.
Although exact dates are subject to weather and other factors, ITD expects that:
- Tonight (May 15) the 10th Avenue westbound on-ramp will close at 10 p.m. and remain closed through August. Traffic will detour to the westbound on-ramp at Centennial Way. Detour map
- On May 22, the Centennial Way westbound off-ramp (Exit 27) will close overnight from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. so crews can move traffic onto the newly constructed concrete lanes. Traffic will be detoured to the eastbound off-ramp, using the Notus/Parma Exit (Exit 26) to turn around. Detour map
- Beginning May 23, westbound traffic exiting at Centennial Way will follow a new ramp configuration, located before the previous off-ramp. Motorists will need to exit early to use the temporary design, which will be in place through August. View map
“Our crews have an enormous amount of work to complete in a tight work zone,” ITD Resident Engineer Styles Salek said. “Closing the 10th Avenue westbound off-ramp this summer allows us to get the work done quickly and safely while the weather holds. We appreciate motorists being patient and planning ahead during construction.”
In addition, motorists can expect occasional nighttime lane restrictions and short-term ramp closures on I-84 this summer. To request email or text updates about upcoming closures, text 84CORRIDOR to 1-866-483-8422 or email 84CORRIDOR@itd.idaho.gov.
The I-84 widening project in Caldwell began in November 2023 and includes:
- Widening I-84 to three lanes in each direction with auxiliary lanes between interchanges
- Replacing the 10th Avenue Interchange
- Removing one westbound on-ramp at the 10th Avenue Interchange
- Updating the pedestrian overpass
- Building a sound wall along Hannibal Street
- Adding a traffic signal at the westbound ramps at the Centennial Way Interchange
The speed limit in the I-84 work zone is 55 mph. With crews, trucks and heavy equipment operating close to traffic, ITD urges motorists to slow down, stay alert and follow all posted signs.
Construction on I-84 in Caldwell will be completed in 2027. For more information, visit itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/i-84-corridor or call (208) 334-8002.
Starting Monday, construction will begin on U.S. Highway 95 through the city of Riggins to replace or repair manhole covers and fix soft spots to preserve the highway surface and provide a smoother trip through town.
The work will be from Big Salmon Road north through Riggins.
The public should expect flagging operations with a pilot car on site. Traffic delays should be between 15 and 30 minutes while work is taking place during the day. The speed limit through downtown Riggins is 25 mph, but extra caution is encouraged as there will be heavy equipment and multiple personnel in the work zone.
The project is valued at $1.3 million, and work is anticipated to be completed before the 4th of July.
Live traffic impacts across the region can be found by visiting 511.idaho.gov. Travelers can also dial 5-1-1 or download the app.
