Construction to begin Monday in American Falls

Map showing final configuration of the intersection of Pocatello Avenue and SH-39

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.

Repairs to rockfall fencing starts tomorrow on the Lewiston Grade

Picture of the rockfall fencing on the Lewiston Grade.

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.

ITD warns Idahoans about scam texts demanding payment for traffic violations

Woman with off-white painted nails holding phone in both hands. Her thumbs are poised over the keys.

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 www.dmv.idaho.gov, don’t trust it.

To verify the status of your driver’s license or check for legitimate traffic violations, visit www.dmv.idaho.gov.

Stay alert. Stay informed. Don’t get caught in a scam.

Night work Tuesday and Wednesday on I-15 at 2.5 Mile Road

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.

Seven-person crash in Southeast Idaho caused by impaired driver; officials urge DUI education

Flowers laying on the dirt beside a road

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.

Chubbuck Road Underpass construction resumes

Chubbuck road underpass showing cars, pedestrians, and cyclists

Beginning Monday the Idaho Transportation Department will close Chubbuck Road underneath Interstate 15 to add facilities for bicyclists and pedestrians. The underpass was partially completed and opened for the school year, but with schools out for the summer the contractor will be returning to complete work.

Construction is scheduled to be completed by the end of the month. Traffic will be detoured through the Northgate Interchange while work continues.

The old Chubbuck Road Overpass, built in 1962, made it difficult for large loads travelling north and south on I-15 due to its limited height. As part of the System Interchange project, the department decided to transform Chubbuck Road into an underpass to eliminate height restrictions. The new design includes additional facilities for pedestrians and cyclists. Those changes necessitated a closure for demolition in 2022 and the construction of the two newly completed bridges to carry I-15 over Chubbuck Road.

Originally built in the 1960s, the Interstate 86 and I-15 System Interchange is undergoing a rebuild to improve safety and replace aging infrastructure. Work began in 2022 and is scheduled to be completed this year.

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 travel safely.

ITD Unveils First-Ever Emergency Operations Plan

In late April, Director Stokes signed the first ever Emergency Operation Plan (EOP). ITD Emergency Program Manager Travis Hire (pictured below at right) said, “This is a huge step for ITD as a commitment to our employees, the public and those who respond to disasters and emergencies. The plan reflects ITD’s reputation for operational excellence and positions us to continue leading during a crisis.”

“ITD consistently is a resource for the State of Idaho and our neighbors for nearly any type of emergency,” said Director Scott Stokes. “It’s easy to think back to how our teams have assisted others and been recognized for responding in times of need. Others always turn to us. What a great compliment to us that they naturally turn to us. And it confirms our vision of enhancing quality of life in Idaho.”

The plan supports Idaho’s broader emergency response and recovery efforts, aligning with the National Response Framework and the National Recovery Framework. The development of our EOP started last year with collaboration between ITD Headquarters, district offices, and the Idaho Office of Emergency Management (IOEM).

This EOP establishes how the department will respond to and recover from emergencies and disasters that impact ITD and the state’s transportation system. It will serve as a baseline for a larger emergency management program. It lays the groundwork for a series of annexes including the Continuity of Operations (COOP) Plan, an Emergency Management Annex, and scenario-based plans for specific incidents such as wildfires, severe weather, and cyber incidents.

“This plan will be key to building a structure that is already in our natural DNA,” Director Stokes added. “This work is setting the stage for the future and for continuing to provide essential service to individuals, families, businesses, and communities in Idaho.”

Idaho enters the 100 deadliest days

BOISE — As Memorial Day approaches, Idaho enters the “100 Deadliest Days,” the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day when the state historically experiences a spike in fatal and serious injury crashes. This year, the Idaho Office of Highway Safety (OHS) urges all drivers to prioritize safety and make responsible choices behind the wheel.

According to OHS, as of May 12, 2025, there have been 74 traffic fatalities in Idaho, compared to 57 at the same time last year. This alarming increase underscores the importance of heightened awareness and caution during the summer months.

“We call this period the 100 Deadliest Days, but it would be great to be proven wrong,” said OHS Program Manager Josephine Middleton. “Make it safer out there for yourself and others, and remember, when traveling in rural areas, to be extra vigilant because emergency crash response times are more challenging.”

While winter driving conditions are often perceived as more hazardous, summer presents its own set of challenges. With more people on vacation, attending events, and engaging in recreational activities, the roads become busier. This increase in traffic, combined with factors such as distracted driving, speeding, and impaired driving, contributes to the higher incidence of crashes during this period.

Additionally, warmer weather brings more motorcyclists and bicyclists onto the roads, increasing the need for drivers to remain vigilant and share the road responsibly.

Safety Tips for the 100 Deadliest Days

To help reduce the number of crashes and fatalities, OHS recommends the following:

Wear a Seat Belt: Seat belts increase your odds of surviving a crash by nearly 50%.
Drive Engaged: Stay free from distractions and focus on the road ahead.
Never Drive Impaired: Always plan for a sober ride home, whether it’s a cab, rideshare, designated driver, or staying overnight where you are drinking.
Slow Down: Aggressive driving was involved in 61% of the fatal crashes in rural areas in 2023.

“We have a lot of wonderful partners from law enforcement to construction workers, helping to make Idaho’s roads safe, but we all need to do our part,” Middleton said. “As drivers, we can all do a better job of looking out for each other on our roads and make it safely through this summer.”

For more information and resources, visit https://itd.idaho.gov/safety/

Expect delays on US-95 for Thorn Creek Bridge work next week

Construction equipment and work zone at Thorn Creek Bridge along US-95.

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/.

ITD awarded for volunteer involvement on AASHTO committees

ITD recently received the AASHTOWare Most Involved Agency award, recognizing the department’s spirit of volunteerism. ITD employees fill 25 volunteer roles on committees ranging from technical advisory groups to user groups to task forces and special committees. A few individuals serve on multiple committees. The ultimate goal of these participants is to provide a voice for states like Idaho in setting the strategic and practical vision for the software we use to deliver projects, model safety, and provide our roadway users the best experience possible.

The honor was recognized at the AASHTOWare Connect Conference April 24 in Providence, Rhode Island.

The volunteers are:

Ken Sereduk, Michael Johnson, Patty Fish, Jake Legler, Melissa Hennessy, Margaret Pridmore, Kelly Campbell, Walter Mills, Jared Holyoak, Mark Snyder, Benjamin Daly, Karen Hanna and David Coladner, with Josephine Middleton and John Arrambari as End User Designees.

Pictured above, L to R: Kelly Campbell (Highway Safety), Margaret Pridmore (Roadway Data), Keith Platte (AASHTOWare Director), Todd Bergland (MnDOT Transportation Systems Manager) who was accepting the Prismatic Legacy Award on behalf of Charlie Groshens of MnDOT.