POCATELLO – The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) will divert Interstate 15 northbound traffic onto US-91 on Tuesday night, August 6, while girders are placed at the new Northgate Interchange from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Drivers will exit on Interstate 86 at Exit 61 (Chubbuck interchange) and re-enter I-15 at Exit 89 (South Blackfoot Interchange). Pictured are pillars used to hold the girders.
Traffic control will continue for those same hours Wednesday night, August 7, as ITD diverts southbound traffic on US-91. Drivers will exit I-15 at Exit 89 and re-enter at Exit 61 on I-86. ITD will also have traffic control set up at the Fort Hall Interchange to divert traffic as needed.
Girders are the massive concrete structures that will support the new bridge. The contractor will be placing 12 girders each night, 24 total, that are 85 ft. long and weight 120,000 lbs. each.
This work is part of a year-long project to construct the new Northgate interchange on I-15. The project is expected to be completed in late fall 2019.
NEWDALE – On Wednesday, July 31, Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) maintenance crews will lay about two-miles of asphalt pavement on Idaho Highway 33 between Teton and Newdale.
During this one-day project, crews will detour traffic between 3rd Street and 8000 W. until construction is completed.
Travelers are advised to please watch for and follow traffic detour signs, drive safe and check 511.idaho.govfor current construction and traveler information.
AMERICAN FALLS – The Idaho Transportation Department has invited members of the community to review plans for a new roundabout at the intersection of Pocatello Avenue (I-86B) and State Highway 39 at an open house on Thursday, Aug. 1.
The drop-in event will run from 4 to 7 p.m. at the American Falls District Library (308 Roosevelt St.).
In response to concerns about safety and operations, ITD considered many alternatives for improving the intersection. Each alternative was evaluated based on factors such as cost, traffic capacity, delays, safety, right-of-way needs and community input.
Community members were invited to give comments at a series of workshops in 2018.
“We would like to thank every person who participated in the design process,” said ITD Engineering Manager Dan Harelson. “We received valuable input that helped us ensure the new intersection will serve both commercial and local traffic.”
The new roundabout will allow a continuous flow of traffic without requiring drivers to wait for a light or a stop sign. A video of a similarly sized roundabout, as well as background materials about this project, is available at https://itdprojects.org/pocatelloave_i86b.
Construction is expected to begin in 2022.
Ahead of constructing additional lanes on Interstate 84 in Canyon County, the Idaho Transportation Department is reconfiguring westbound lanes of the Interstate near the Franklin Blvd. interchange.
Currently, three westbound lanes are reduced to two lanes with the far left lane merging into the center lane. In the new configuration, the left lane will no longer merge, remaining a travel lane. The far right lane will end, used as the off-ramp to Franklin Blvd. A similar configuration is on westbound I-84 at the Garrity Blvd. interchange, where the Interstate is reduced from four to three lanes.
“This reconfiguration maintains the existing capacity of I-84 during construction,” said ITD Project Manager Styles Salek. “With this change, we remind motorists to slow down, plan ahead and pay attention in construction zones.”
In order to promote the safety of motorists and construction crews, ITD has partnered with the Idaho State Police to provide enhanced patrols throughout the duration of the project.
This change will allow crews to begin adding lanes in the I-84 median between Karcher/Midland and Franklin Boulevard. The addition of lanes is part of the ongoing I-84 corridor project from Nampa to Caldwell. Improvements are expected to improve safety, address congestion and benefit the regional economy for many years.
For more information about the I-84, Karcher to Franklin project, listen to the Drive Idaho podcast, visit itdprojects.org/84corridor or text 555888 to request construction updates. You can also contact ITD at 84corridor@itd.idaho.gov and (208) 334-8002.
The Idaho Transportation Department is expected to begin repairs next Wednesday (July 31) on Interstate 84 east of Jerome to improve roadway conditions for motorists. Work will occur between milepost 166 and 174 on both eastbound and westbound lanes.
While crews are onsite, directional traffic will be reduced to one lane.
Repairs are anticipated to take place between 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Drivers should exercise caution and watch for crews on the following days:
– Wednesday & Thursday (July 31 – August 1)
– Monday & Tuesday (August 5 – August 6)
The Idaho Transportation Department has scheduled an overnight closure for the westbound I-84 off-ramp at the Karcher/Midland Interchange on Friday, July 26. The planned closure will allow crews to pave the ramp as part of ongoing improvements to widen I-84 from Nampa to Caldwell.
The off-ramp will be closed from 10 p.m. July 26 to 7 a.m. July 27. Motorists seeking access to Karcher Road or Midland Boulevard from westbound I-84 will need to use the Northside Boulevard exit and follow posted detour signs. See a map of the detours below.
Overnight closures on I-84 are part of ITD’s large-scale project geared towards improving the I-84 corridor between Nampa and Caldwell. The work is expected to improve safety, address congestion and benefit the regional economy for many years.
For more information about I-84 in Canyon County, listen to the Drive Idaho podcast or visit ITDprojects.org/84corridor. To request construction updates right to your cell phone, text 84CORRIDOR to 555888.
POCATELLO – The Idaho Transportation Department will close the Interstate 15 Rose Road Interchange (Exit 98) for paving on Friday, July 26 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The northbound and southbound off-ramps will also be closed during this time.
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.
Traffic will detour around the closure and will be notified with digital messaging boards prior to the closures.
This ongoing reconstruction of the interchange at Rose Road (Exit 98) is expected to be completed in late 2019.
More information about the 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.
REXBURG – Traffic will be switched to the westbound lanes beginning today (Wednesday, July 24) on the US-20 Lorenzo Bridge in Madison County. The bridge rehabilitation is expected to be completed this fall.
The off- and on-ramps of Exit 325 will remain open to traffic during the project, except for the eastbound on-ramp to Rexburg. Motorists will not be able to enter US-20 eastbound toward Rexburg from the Exit 325 interchange and will instead need to detour through Rigby at the Exit 322 on-ramp or use an alternate route.
“This rehabilitation will entail resurfacing of the bridge deck, replacing the guardrail, improving the bridge approaches and finishing with new pavement,” said ITD Project Manager Eli Robinson.
Drivers can expect traffic delays for the duration of the project. Reduced speed limits will be in effect and traffic will be shifted over periodically to single-lane, two-way traffic.
Idaho Transportation Department maintenance workers will repair US-95 near the Lincoln Avenue/Walnut Avenue intersection for the next two weeks.
Work will start Monday, July 29 at the US-95 interchange with Northwest Boulevard. Drivers leaving the downtown area on Northwest Boulevard will not be able to take the northbound ramp to US-95 for approximately two days as it is repaved. The ramp will open at night, but during the day drivers will be directed to use Lacrosse Avenue as a detour to the highway.
After ramp work is complete, crews will patch the bridge deck. One lane in each direction will be open, but drivers should expect short delays when traffic must be stopped to move equipment on and off the bridge. Drivers will also not be able to turn left from US-95 onto Northwest Boulevard.
Work will progress north to the Lincoln Avenue/Walnut Avenue intersection. Flaggers at the intersection will guide alternating traffic.
Repairs will address the deteriorating pavement in advance of the planned intersection redesign, which has been delayed to 2026 as part of an update to ITD’s seven-year program.
The program is out for public comment until Aug. 2.
From Monday, July 29 through Friday, August 2 crews will walk the arch of the Perrine Bridge as part of a routine inspection. An unmanned aerial vehicle (commonly known as a drone or UAV) will also be deployed to examine the structure.
This will be the first time the Idaho Transportation Department has employed a drone for this type of bridge inspection. Close monitoring will be done throughout the process to determine whether efficiencies can be gained through UAV use which could benefit further bridge assessments throughout the state.
Base jumping may be subject to short restrictions during portions of the examination. ITD will provide personnel stationed on the bridge to coordinate with inspection crews and jumpers during regulated periods.
Weather permitting, inspection will occur from approximately 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.
Photos from this and other bridge inspections will be shared on ITD’s social media platforms:
– Instagram: @Idaho_Transportation_Dept
– Facebook: @IdahoTransportationDepartment
– Twitter: @IdahoITD
