Lower Stanley is being evacuated due to the movement of the Wapiti Fire. State Highway 75 will be closed at Museum (MP 190), Gateway (MP 192) and Casino Creek (195). Both directions of SH-75 are closed due to the fire risk. State Highway 21 from Stanley to Sour Dough Lodge is still closed in both directions.
We will continue to monitor fire movement and issue road closures as needed. Drivers in the area should keep an eye out for signage about the fire and avoid areas that are blocked off. The road closures include pedestrian, bicycling and other modes of transportation.
Go to 511.idaho.gov for up to date information on road closures and more. You can also follow Wapiti Fire Info 2024 for more fire information.
Starting Tuesday, our partners with the BNSF Railway will begin work on their crossing at State Highway 54 in Athol that will require the closure of this intersection for two days.
During this time drivers will need to utilize an alternate route around the work area.
Updates about this closure will be available through the Idaho 511 system, either online, by phone, or through the ap.
You can file your Form 2290 Heavy Highway Vehicle Use Tax (HVUT) online!
Although you cannot file your Form 2290 with the Idaho Transportation Department, all of the information that is needed to file with the IRS can be found below.
You can E-file and E-Pay your HVUT at the Trucking Tax Center website.
What will you need to E-File Form 2290?
- You must have an employer identifier number (EIN). If you do not have an EIN, you can apply for one from the IRS online.
- You must know the taxable gross weight of your vehicle(s). If you do not know, you can figure your taxable gross weight by using the instructions provided by the IRS.
- Your name on your Form 2290 must be the same as the name on your EIN.
- You must have a complete vehicle identification number (VIN).
- You must have an email address.
Need more help? View the IRS guide for Form 2290.
The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) invites the public to learn about a pilot sign project on seven miles of State Highway 55/Eagle Road, from Interstate 84 to State Highway 44.
For more information and to submit feedback, visit the project website at https://itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/eagle-road-safety-corridor.
ITD will hold two public open houses for the Eagle Road Safety Awareness Pilot Project. These meetings are designed to engage the community and gather feedback on proposed safety enhancements along Eagle Road, Idaho’s busiest non-interstate highway.
Meeting details:
- Wednesday, Aug. 28 | 5 – 7 p.m. (drop in anytime) Community Planning Association of Southwest Idaho, 700 NE 2nd Street, Meridian, ID 83642
- Thursday, Aug. 29 | 5 – 7 p.m. (drop in anytime) Hilton Garden Inn, 145 E Riverside Drive, Eagle, ID 83616
With more than 60,000 vehicles a day, the two-year pilot project includes adding new warning signage and speed feedback signs this fall to aid drivers, possibly installing congestion variable speed zone signs next year, and the removal of these four mid-block left-turns to help reduce crashes on SH-55:
• Southbound left-in at Meadowdale Street
• Northbound left-in Baldcypress Street
• Southbound U-turn near Ustick Road
• Northbound left-in at Lanark Street
Two of ITD’s research projects were recently selected by AASHTO as High Value Research winners in a competition among state DOTs across the nation. The first project, “Bees and Butterflies in Roadside Habitats” assessed pollinator diversity along Idaho’s roadsides, focusing on areas critical for monarch butterflies. The second project, “Experimental Validation of Repair Methods for Earthquake-Damaged Bridges Incorporating ITD’s Precast Pier System” focused initially on developing a precast pier system to improve the seismic resilience of bridges in Idaho. That led to a study investigating the use of Ultra-High-Performance Concrete for repairing earthquake-damaged piers, which showed promising results in restoring structural integrity.
The AASHTO (American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials) High Value Research competition recognizes outstanding transportation research that demonstrates significant value and impact. These awards celebrate projects that address pressing issues in transportation, from improving infrastructure resilience to enhancing resource conservation. The winning projects were recognized at the AASHTO Research Advisory Committee meeting in Columbus, Ohio on July 22.
ITD Research Program Manager Ned Parrish and Senior Research Analyst Amanda Laib represented ITD and accepted the awards on behalf of the department. Amanda is pictured above center, with certificate. Winning projects from Wyoming, Colorado and Texas DOTs are also shown. The ITD projects will also be presented at a special poster session at the Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., in January 2025.
The recognition of these projects by AASHTO underscores ITD’s dedication to advancing transportation infrastructure. These innovative research outcomes not only enhance infrastructure resilience and resource conservation but also reflects ITD’s standing as a leader in innovative transportation solutions.
ITD Roadside Program Manager Cathy Ford led the pollinator project. Researchers at Montana State University surveyed various roadside habitats, identifying patterns that support pollinator health. The study found that smaller highways and sagebrush-bordered roadsides had a higher incidence of bee and butterfly species. The project also mapped essential milkweed patches and recommended management strategies to enhance pollinator habitats. These recommendations are being integrated into ITD’s operational practices to support conservation efforts and avoid regulatory complications.
Highways Development Division Administrator and State Bridge Engineer Mike Johnson managed the earthquake-damaged bridge project. Extensive testing at Idaho State University showed the new system’s superior performance compared to traditional methods. This research led to the implementation of the precast pier system in the Interstate 15 Fort Hall Interchange, significantly reducing construction time and minimizing traffic disruptions.
The Idaho Transportation Department will begin maintenance work next week on the 18th Street Bridge over Interstate 84 in Mountain Home. Crews plan to start repairs Thursday night, with the project expected to be completed this fall.
Motorists and area residents can expect:
- 18th Street over I-84 will close nightly between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.
- Traffic will be detoured to NE Reservoir Road, U.S. Highway 20/26 and 8th Street.
- Work may be noisy.
Improvements on this bridge include:
- Repairing roadway cracks to enhance safety and durability.
- Applying an epoxy overlay to protect the driving surface from water damage.
- Completing joint work to allow the bridge to flex and accommodate changes in weather and heavy loads.
- Adding bearing pads to reduce vibration and evenly distribute the weight of traffic across the structure.
The safety of crews and motorists is important to ITD. Please use caution when driving through the work zone. To plan your route in advance, visit 511.idaho.gov.
To learn more about the project or sign up for construction updates, visit the project website at itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/84bridges, or text 84BRIDGES to 1-866-483-8422.
Beginning tomorrow at noon the eastbound Interstate 86 to southbound Interstate 15 ramp will be closed while crews construct a temporary road to the new eastbound to southbound ramp. Eastbound traffic on I-86 looking to travel south on I-15 will be detoured north through the Northgate Interchange (Exit 73). The closed ramp will reopen late Sunday.
This work will allow the eastbound lanes to be adjusted to the grade of the new ramp. Doing the work this weekend will limit traffic impacts during the peak Labor Day weekend.
Originally built in the 1960s, the I-86 and I-15 System Interchange is undergoing $112 million of redesign work to improve safety and replace aging infrastructure. The project is scheduled to be completed next summer.
Motorists should carefully follow signs and posted speed limits while traveling through the construction area. With crews working day and night at the System Interchange it is especially important that drivers be alert and proceed safely through the work area.
Motorists are encouraged to use https://511.idaho.gov or the 511 app to keep track of project detours. Project details are available here on ITD’s projects website —https://itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/i-86i-15-system-interchange
State Highway 21 is now indefinitely closed in both directions from Warm Springs Creek to Stanley due to the Wapiti Fire.
SH-21 between Boise and Lowman closed Tuesday, but due to fire growth the closure has been extended to Warm Springs. The highway is closed between milepost 92 and milepost 130.
There is no public access to Grandjean at this time, and traffic to and from Stanley will need to use State Highway 75 as an alternate route. There is no estimated reopening time, but travelers should continue to check Idaho 511 for updates.
Here are some additional safety tips for traveling in areas with wildfires:
- Power outages are common near wildfires. Treat non-working traffic signals as four-way stops.
- Bring additional food and water in case your trip is delayed.
- Driving in smoke is similar to driving in heavy fog. Slow down, maintain a steady pace, and stay alert.
- Turn on headlights when driving in smoky areas.
- The safest place to wait for a highway to reopen is at home. Avoid traveling to closure points to wait, as closures could last for days.
Fire information can be found on the National Interagency Fire Center’s website.
Beginning tomorrow drivers can expect to see the return of temporary traffic signals through the end of the week on US-95 near McArthur Lake as guardrail and temporary barrier are installed. By the end of Friday traffic is expected to be shifted onto the bridge, at which time, the temporary signals will be permanently removed.
The adjacent shoofly- the temporary roadway that was constructed last year to divert traffic around the bridge- will begin excavation and work to complete the wildlife underpass will begin.
This project will continue to require reduced lanes, speeds, and intermittent flagging as crews continue to work. Trucks will also be entering and exiting the highway during work days to haul excavated material.
Ongoing updates regarding traffic impacts can be found using the Idaho 511 system.
This project is expected to be completed in late October. Some work, such as final paving, will be dependent on weather conditions as we approach the fall season.
Starting this evening, motorists will encounter new traffic patterns at the Interstate 86 and Interstate 15 System Interchange in Pocatello. The newly constructed I-86 eastbound to I-15 northbound ramp is set to open to traffic tonight. Alongside this change, the rightmost lane of I-86 eastbound will be closed as part of the new traffic configuration.
Drivers should also be aware that the split point for the eastbound-to-northbound and eastbound-to-southbound lanes will be shifted to the west, near the Hiline Bridge.
Originally built in the 1960s, the I-86 and I-15 System Interchange is undergoing $112 million of redesign work to improve safety and replace aging infrastructure. The project is scheduled to be completed next summer.
Motorists are encouraged to stay informed about the latest traffic updates and detours by visiting 511.idaho.gov or using the 511 app. Additional details about the project can be found on ITD’s projects website, https://itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/i-86i-15-system-interchange.
