Fatalities Decrease During 100 Deadliest Days

Note: According to data in early October, there were 93 fatalities during the 100 Deadliest Days. The below data was accurate as of publication of this post on Sept. 10, 2019.

BOISE — This summer, 91 people died as a result of traffic crashes according to preliminary data from the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD). This is down from the summer of 2018, when 101 people were killed in crashes during the same time period.

The summer months typically bring with them an uptick in deadly crashes both in Idaho and nationally. Because of this trend, the period of time between Memorial Day Weekend and Labor Day Weekend is often referred to as the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer Driving.

“Summer driving is a big concern of ours,” said Highway Safety Manager John Tomlinson. “This is why we work so closely with law enforcement agencies and other partners throughout the state to promote safe, engaged driving.”

This summer, the Office of Highway Safety (OHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration funded four high visibility enforcements. During these different enforcement periods, law enforcement agencies were provided grant funding to put extra officers on the roads, looking for seat belt violations and aggressive and impaired drivers.

In addition to these grant-funded mobilizations, several media campaigns ran statewide encouraging everyone on the roads to make safe choices.

“It’s so important to get these messages out to the public,” Tomlinson said. “Our law enforcement partners do wonderful work but they can’t be everywhere. If we are going to prevent these fatal crashes, we need drivers to make smart and safe choices.”

100 Deadliest Days at a Glance:*
• The majority of the 91 people killed in crashes were in passenger vehicles.
– 62 Automobile
– 17 Motorcycle
– 6 Other (ATV/UTV)
– 4 Pedestrian
– 2 Pedacycle
• 75 people died in crashes on rural roads and 16 people were killed on urban roads.
• In the 62 passenger vehicle fatalities, 28 people were not wearing seatbelts.
• Failure to maintain a lane was a contributing factor in 23 fatalities.
• Impairment was a contributing factor in 17 fatalities.
• 13 fatalities involved an aggressive-driving behavior.
• 8 fatalities involved inattentive driving.

*Data is preliminary and may be subject to change.

Work closing southbound I-15 off-ramp to Malad at Exit 13 for realignment Sept. 9

POCATELLO – The southbound Interstate 15 off-ramp to Malad at Exit 13 will close starting on Monday (Sept. 9) as crews realign the ramp, eliminating a free-running right to improve safety.

This graphic shows the current interchange configuration overlaid in blue with the new configuration.

Drivers will need to use Exit 17 as the detour during this work, and loop back to Malad via Old Highway 191.

Idaho Materials & Construction is the contractor on this project.

Motorists can visit 511.idaho.gov for project details and updates on this and other roadwork in the area.

Westbound Exit 208 closure expected tomorrow near Burley

Work is expected to occur Thursday, Sept. 5 on the Interstate 84 westbound Exit 208 off-ramp near Burley. The Idaho Transportation Department will mill off the existing pavement and inlay the area with new asphalt to improve the overall condition of the roadway.

The Exit 208 westbound off-ramp will be closed while this work takes place, so motorists will need to utilize Exit 211 or Exit 216 for access to Burley.

Repairs are anticipated to take place between 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and be complete within a day.

Rose Road Interchange (Exit 98) will be closed Sept 3-5 for paving

POCATELLO – The Idaho Transportation Department will close the Rose Road Interchange (Exit 98) for paving on Tuesday, September 3 from 7 a.m. to Thursday, September 5 at 7 p.m. The north and southbound off-ramps will also be closed during this time.

Traffic will be detoured around the closure and will be notified with digital messaging boards prior to the closures. See detour map.

This work is a part of a year-long project to reconstruct the interchange at Rose Road (Exit 98) on Interstate 15 to maximize the safety and mobility for motorists using this interchange. Construction includes widening the Rose Road overpass and increasing its vertical clearance, reconfiguring and lengthening the interchange ramps, and replacing two canal structures to support current traffic loads.

The interchange is expected to open later this year with additional construction activities to be completed in Spring 2020.

More information about the I-15, Rose Road Interchange project is available at itdprojects.org/rose. Community members may sign up for email updates by texting INTERSTATE 15 to 22828 or emailing I-15construction@itd.idaho.gov.

ID-55 Snake River Bridge overnight closures during girder placement

ID-55 bridge with american flag in foreground

There will be temporary closures on Idaho Highway 55 at the Snake River Bridge in Marsing while girders are placed for the new bridge.

Girders are large horizontal beams that support the surface of the bridge. Each girder weighs 141,000 pounds and is 148 feet long. Current plans call for girders to be placed overnight on Tuesday Sept. 3, Thursday Sept. 5, Friday Sept. 13, and Monday Sept. 16. This is subject to change.

Sunny Slope Rd. southbound will be reduced to one lane between Lowell and True road. The lanes will be restricted from noon to 2:00 am each night to stage the bridge girders. Placement of the girders will generally occur between the hours of 10:00 pm and 2:00 am. Traffic will be stopped for up to thirty minutes while each girder is placed. Each night up to three girders will be placed.

This work is part of a two year-long project to replace the Snake River Bridge in Marsing The project will improve safety and driving conditions on the bridge, which is the primary river crossing for the area. More information can be found at https://itdprojects.org/marsing55improvements/.

Closures for US-95 construction in Culdesac Canyon shifted into evening commute to accommodate dwindling daylight hours

Equipment on a trail above US-95 in Culdesac Canyon helps with rock removal to extend the passing lane.

With shorter daylight hours, construction delays on US-95 in Culdesac Canyon near Winchester are shifting earlier and expected to affect evening commutes as fall conditions require a change in the contractor’s blasting schedule.

Since construction began in April to extend a passing lane through the rocky canyon, closures for blasting have typically been scheduled to start at 7 p.m., but dwindling daylight now requires blasting to occur before sunset.

Next week, rock excavation and cleanup activities will begin at 6:30 p.m., and the following week they will begin at 6 p.m.

Temporary closures are still expected to last up to 1.5 hours, with up to three closures possible each week. They are advertised on 511.idaho.gov and on message signs stationed near the project.

Work this season is expected to end by November, with the entire project scheduled for completion in fall 2020.

Signal at US-95 and Idaho Highway 53 scheduled for nighttime removal starting Monday

Aerial shot of US-95 and ID-53 north of CDA

The signal at US-95 and ID-53 is planned for removal starting Monday, August 26 to allow construction of a new interchange at that location to improve traffic flow between Garwood and Sagle.

View a video of the design for the US-95, ID-53 interchange.

The removal process will take approximately three nights, during which US-95 will be reduced to one lane in each direction from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Idaho Highway 53 will also be closed to the west of the intersection as crews replace the bridge over the railroad and realign the highway to tie into the new interchange.

Starting Monday night, traffic will be detoured around the ID-53 closure via Old US-95 to Garwood Road to access US-95. This closure is expected to last until fall 2020 when the new railroad bridge and interchange open to traffic.

Government Way will continue to be closed at the US-95 intersection.

This project is part of a larger vision to maximize mobility on US-95 between Garwood Road and Sagle. Since construction began in July, a temporary signal has been installed at ID-53 and Ramsey Road to accommodate the change in traffic patterns, and ID-53 has been widened.

In 2020 and 2021, frontage roads and an overpass at Garwood Road will be constructed as part of this project. Total improvements, though not all awarded to contractors, are funded primarily with an estimated $41 million from the GARVEE program and another $13.9 million in federal aid.

Email updates are available at itdprojects.org/us95id53.

ITD works with the city and Fremont County to make safety improvements to ID-47 and US-20 through Ashton

ASHTON – Through Aug. 30, the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) will be making safety improvements to the intersection of Idaho Highway 47 and US-20 through the city of Ashton.

Crews will install a flashing stoplight on ID-47 at the intersection, install rumble strips to alert drivers approaching the intersection, and the department will be reducing the speed limit on US-20 through Ashton from 45 mph to 35 mph. Future safety plans for the area include installing flashing school zone warning signs on US-20 through the city.

ITD first programmed a traffic signal at the intersection of US-20 and ID-47 at the request of the city. It was pushed back from 2020 to 2023, though, due to unforeseen issues during project design. Primary among those issues, the State Historical Preservation Office (SHPO) considers the Frostop Root Beer Sign(picture from East Idaho News) at that location to be historic, so ITD has been working directly with SHPO to ensure that impacts are mitigated as much as possible.

The eventual project is estimated to cost $1.5 million.

Sunday traffic reduced to one lane on the Perrine Bridge

Image of the Perrine Bridge near Twin Falls

Drivers can expect lane restrictions and possible delays near Twin Falls next week as crews from the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) place platforms underneath the Perrine Bridge for upcoming special inspections.

On Sunday, August 18 it’s anticipated that crews will utilize ITD’s under bridge inspection truck along the bridge deck. Southbound traffic will be reduced to one lane while the truck is in use.

Work is scheduled to occur on Sunday to help lessen traffic congestion through the area. Motorists may consider using an alternate route between the hours of 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Drivers are urged to exercise caution near the work zone and watch for crew members and equipment. ITD appreciates the patience and cooperation of those driving through the area.

Roadway repairs to occur next week on ID-75 in Blaine County

The Idaho Transportation Department will begin repairs this week on Idaho Highway 75 in Blaine County. Work will occur on various stretches of roadway between milepost 118 and 132 on both north and southbound lanes.
Weather permitting, crews are anticipated to complete work by the end of August.

“We are working to fix areas of the highway which saw substantial damage over the lengthy winter months, including the corner of Elkhorn Road in Ketchum,” said ITD area foreman Brad Lynch. “This should improve the driving experience for motorists throughout the Wood River Valley.”

Some areas will require a detour while work is being performed. Motorists are advised to exercise caution and follow signs which will be in place to safely direct drivers through the area.

Repairs are expected to take place between 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. Work will not be performed over Labor Day weekend.