Ongoing construction to repair fencing on U.S. Highway 95 near the top of Lewiston Grade that protects travelers from falling rocks will continue into the weekend.
From 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday mornings, flaggers will stop traffic in the northbound and southbound directions for 15 minutes at a time while crews strategically dislodge rocks from the hillside to the highway below. Traffic will be cleared after each closure. These intermittent closures are necessary for the safety of the traveling public.
Live traffic impacts across the region from this project and others can be found by visiting 511.idaho.gov. Travelers can also dial 5-1-1 or download the app.
Motorists can expect lane restrictions on U.S. Highway 95 between Payette and Weiser this summer while the Idaho Transportation Department applies a protective sealcoat to the highway surface. The project will extend the life of the asphalt.
Construction will begin in Weiser and progress north nine miles. After that section is complete, work will resume in Weiser and move south toward Payette. All work is expected to be completed by mid-July.
Motorists can expect that:
- Work will take place from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. On Fridays work will end at 12 p.m. All lanes will be open on weekends and outside of working hours.
- US- 95 will be reduced to one lane in the work zone. Flaggers and pilot cars will direct traffic.
- Speed limits will be reduced, and 12-foot lane restrictions may be in place.
Community members can request email updates about this project by visiting lp.constantcontactpages.com/sv/pI5SwgY. Questions may be directed to (208) 402-8408 or info@itdsealcoats.org.
Current restrictions are also posted to 511.idaho.gov.
Traffic leaving U.S. Highway 20 to access South Rigby will be detoured on Monday through Wednesday, June 11, while the exit is closed for bridge repairs. The closure will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and last until complete on Wednesday.
Travelers can take Exit 322 (North Rigby) or Exit 318 (County Line) as detours. Those leaving Rigby to get on to US-20 will still be able to use the southbound ramp at Exit 320 toward Idaho Falls as normal.
This closure will be noted on the Idaho 511 app and at https://511.idaho.gov.
Boise — The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is alerting Idaho residents about a scam text message circulating statewide that falsely claims individuals can pay online to obtain or expedite a REAL ID (Star Card). These messages are fraudulent and are not affiliated with ITD or any official DMV services.
“Scammers are targeting Idahoans with messages that look official but are completely fake,” said Lisa McClellan, DMV Administrator. “Your REAL ID can only be obtained in person through an authorized DMV office, not by clicking a link in a text message.”
REAL IDs cannot be purchased or expedited online. You must visit a DMV office in-person to apply for a REAL ID. Most county DMV offices require appointments. A walk-in option is available at 9115 W. Chinden Blvd, Suite 103, Garden City, Idaho.
If you receive one of these messages, do not click any links, do not provide personal or payment information, report the message to your mobile carrier and delete it.
For accurate and secure information about REAL ID and DMV services in Idaho, always visit dmv.idaho.gov.
BOISE — June 6 is National Secure Your Load Day, and the Idaho Transportation Department’s Office of Highway Safety is reminding drivers that safe driving includes making sure your load is properly secured.
Unsecured loads can cause serious crashes.
From 2018 to 2022, debris that fell from vehicles in Idaho caused 82 injuries and two deaths. Most of these crashes involved non-commercial vehicles.
“It is not just commercial drivers who are responsible for securing their cargo,” said Josephine Middleton, OHS Highway Safety Manager. “Every driver has a role to play in keeping our roads safe.”
Idaho law requires that all loads be fastened so they cannot become loose or hazardous while driving. Before hitting the road, make sure your load is secure from every angle. Tie it down, cover it if needed, and double check everything.
Taking a few extra minutes could prevent tragedy. Visit www.secureyourload.com or www.dmv.idaho.gov for safety tips.
The Idaho Transportation Department will begin construction Monday at the intersection of Pocatello Avenue and State Highway 39 in American Falls. The $3.5 million project will redesign the busy intersection to improve safety.
Work will place a signal at the intersection Pocatello Avenue and SH-39. SH-39 will also be widened to four lanes from the intersection to Fairgrounds Road. New turn lanes will also be built on SH-39 for traffic heading to Pocatello Avenue.
This year construction will take place through August and will focus on realigning and widening the intersection. All lanes will remain open, but traffic will be slowed in the construction zone. Flaggers will be present during different phases of the project. Access to the American Falls Airport and the Power County Fairgrounds will remain open throughout construction.
In the spring of 2026 ITD will return to install the traffic signal. Project details are available on ITD’s projects website at itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/pocatelloave-i86b.
Tomorrow morning construction will begin on U.S. Highway 95 near the top of the Lewiston Grade to repair fencing that protects travelers from falling rocks.
During weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., northbound traffic up the grade will be slowed to 45 mph and reduced to one lane. Southbound travelers heading into Lewiston will not be impacted by the construction.
Drivers can also expect to see crews working on the slope above the fencing to knock down any unstable rocks prior to fixing the fence.
Construction is slated to conclude mid-June.
These repairs cost about $157,000.
Live traffic impacts across the region from this project and others can be found by visiting 511.idaho.gov. Travelers can also dial 5-1-1 or download the app.
Boise — The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is warning residents about a scam text message circulating in the state that falsely claims recipients owe money for unpaid traffic violations.
The message typically includes a link and demands immediate payment to avoid further consequences. These messages are fraudulent. They are not from ITD or any affiliated agency.
“Scammers are becoming more sophisticated and using fear tactics to get people to click on fake links or provide personal information,” said Lisa McClellan, DMV Administrator.
ITD will not send texts related tounpaid traffic tickets or fines, will not demand immediate payment, will not provide links to unfamiliar websites, and will not use threats of legal action or license suspension.
If you receive one of these texts, do not click any links, do not provide any personal or payment information, and be sure to report the message to your mobile carrier and delete it.
The bottom line:
If you didn’t get it from dmv.idaho.gov, don’t trust it.
To verify the status of your driver’s license or check for legitimate traffic violations, visit dmv.idaho.gov.
Stay alert. Stay informed. Don’t get caught in a scam.
The Idaho Transportation Department will move Interstate 15 traffic Tuesday and Wednesday nights to accommodate girder placement at 2.5 Mile Road Bridge.
Traffic will be reduced to a single lane in each direction and shifted onto the same side of the interstate. Work will be conducted between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. each night with a speed limit of 55 miles per hour through the work zone.
Motorists should carefully follow signs and posted speed limits while traveling through the construction area. With crews working day and night on the project to make I-15 three lanes from Northgate to Fort Hall it is especially important that drivers be alert and travel safely.
I-15 serves as a major transportation corridor through eastern Idaho. These improvements will increase capacity and improve safety to serve the region’s growing transportation needs for years to come.
Motorists are encouraged to use 511.idaho.gov or the 511 app to keep track of project detours. Project details are available on ITD’s projects website at itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/i15northgatetoblackfoot.
The Idaho State Police (ISP) and the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) urge drivers to make safe, sober choices behind the wheel following confirmation that the at-fault driver in a recent fatal crash on U.S. Highway 20 near Henry’s Lake had a blood alcohol content of 0.20 — more than twice the legal limit of 0.08.
The May 1 crash on one of the main corridors to Yellowstone National Park, which claimed the lives of seven people, occurred just as Idaho entered the 100 Deadliest Days — the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day when traffic fatalities typically rise due to increased summer travel, holidays, and impaired driving. Law enforcement and transportation officials say this preventable tragedy underscores the consequences of impaired driving.
“This tragedy should be a wake-up call,” ISP Captain Chris Weadick said. “No one plans to cause a crash or take a life when they get behind the wheel, but choices have consequences. Impaired driving isn’t just illegal — it’s deadly. If you see someone unfit to drive, speak up. Lives depend on it.”
Alcohol-related crashes remain one of the leading causes of traffic deaths in Idaho.
“Idaho’s roads are especially busy during the summer,” ITD Operations Manager Bryan Young said. “With more construction, increased travel, and an influx of visitors, we’re seeing more families and more drivers on the road. It only takes one impaired driver to change lives forever. This is a preventable problem, and it starts with each of us making responsible choices.”
DUI Prevention Tips
- Plan ahead: If you plan to drink, arrange for a designated driver, rideshare, taxi, or public transportation.
- Always buckle up: Seatbelts save lives and reduce injuries, though they do not replace the need for safe driving.
This summer, ISP and ITD are partnering to strengthen DUI enforcement and expand public outreach. We ask everyone to help protect lives by staying sober behind the wheel. The public is encouraged to report suspected impaired driving by calling *ISP (*477) or 911 if they observe erratic or dangerous behavior on the road.
