At 10:25 a.m. MST local time, an earthquake measuring 4.9 on the Richter scale occurred just north of Smiths Ferry, prompting an immediate response from the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD). To ensure public safety, ITD is doing a thorough assessment of roads, culverts, and bridges in the affected vicinity.
ITD’s bridge inspectors and maintenance crews will be in the area assessing all bridges and roads, including the most photographed bridge in Idaho, the Rainbow Bridge. While there are currently no indications of damage, there has been some small rockfall on the roadway.
In the event of any damage resulting from the earthquake, ITD will provide prompt notification to the public.
ITD wants to reassure the community that every measure is being taken to assess and address potential safety risks from this earthquake, demonstrating our unwavering dedication to maintaining a secure transportation network for all.
Teen drivers are 2.6 times more likely to be involved in a crash than any other age group. For the Idaho Office of Highway Safety (OHS) reaching teens is more important than ever. They are a hard group to connect with. Tabitha Smith (pictured below on podcast), OHS’s occupant protection and teen driver safety program manager has been making those connections and getting them excited about traffic safety.
Tabitha worked with, Sam Walker and Ella Cornett (pictured above, right to left), two students at One Stone who created the “Backseat Driver’s Manual.” It’s an activity book designed to teach kids about safe driving and spark conversations among families. The students recognized Tabitha for her mentorship and guidance at One Stone’s annual fundraising dinner.
During the dinner presentation, Cornett said, “Tabitha empowered us to step outside of our comfort zones. Her steadfast support and positive energy gave us the confidence we needed to positively impact our state.”
Tabitha at the One Stone annual dinner.
Kuna School District is also getting energized about safe driving. Kuna Superintendent Wendy Johnson invited Tabitha to the “Together We Can” podcast to talk about teen driver safety. They talked about unsafe driving behaviors common to teens, advice for parents, Parent-Student Driving Contracts, Alive at 25, and more. You can listen to the podcast on YouTube.
Tabitha’s dedication to promoting safe driving among young drivers is truly admirable. Through her partnerships with Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), Alliance Highway Safety, and the Idaho High School Activities Association (IHSAA), as well as her leadership in managing the Alive at 25 defensive driving program, she’s making a real impact.
If you know an Idaho teenager who could benefit from getting involved or learning more about these programs, don’t hesitate to reach out to Tabitha. You can contact her via email at tabitha.smith@itd.idaho.gov. It’s heartening to see individuals like Tabitha leading the charge for safer roads and empowered young drivers.
Construction to upgrade the Burley Interchange (Exit 208) on Interstate 84 is set to begin next week, and the nearby Heyburn Interchange (Exit 211) is scheduled to begin soon after. Both multi-year projects include replacing the interchanges, with funding coming from Governor Little’s Leading Idaho program.
Both interchanges were built in the 1960s. Feedback from open houses held in 2022 and 2023 led to the selection of new designs that are safer and capable of handling more traffic.
Work will begin at the Burley Interchange on Monday, Feb. 26, with crews bringing in equipment and setting up the work zone. Drivers should plan for nighttime lane closures while they place barrier and start removing vegetation in the median.
Upgrading the interchange will take until late 2026 and is expected to cost $85.1 million. Drivers can generally expect:
All lanes on I-84 will be open during the day. Traffic will be shifted many times to run on temporary pavement to keep traffic flowing.
Nighttime lane closures on I-84 as needed.
Nighttime ramp closures as needed.
Traffic shifts on State Highway 27 crossing over the interstate.
The new interchange will feature longer ramps to access I-84 and two new signals to control ramp traffic. The two existing westbound on-ramps will be consolidated to one ramp, and all bridges will be replaced. View the detailed design here.
This year the contractor will work on building temporary lanes in the median to shift traffic onto, start reconstructing westbound lanes with concrete and forming embankments for future ramps. Crews will also begin to replace the westbound bridge over the canal to the west of the interchange and the northbound bridge for SH-27 traffic over the interstate.
To stay up to date, visit the project website to sign up for email updates. Live traffic impacts can always be checked at 511.idaho.gov.
Construction at the nearby Heyburn Interchange is expected to start in mid-March.
The Leading Idaho program allows ITD to accelerate project timelines to address rapid growth and build critical infrastructure today that would otherwise take many years to fund and build.
Beginning next week, crews will be installing the permanent traffic signal structure and advance warning lights at the intersection of State Highway 53 and Ramsey Road east of Rathdrum.
The existing temporary signal was originally installed in 2019 to help with congestion while traffic was detoured during construction of the interchange at SH-53 an US-95. Construction for roadway improvements and widening to this intersection were completed in 2023 with the addition of right and left turn lanes on both roadways to improve safety and accommodate increasing volumes of traffic.
This permanent signal installation will finalize the project and should be completed over the course of two weeks. During that time there may be temporary lane reductions or closures to accommodate crews and equipment as they work.
Plan ahead by using Idaho 511 online, on your phone or on the app for updates and delays.
Nighttime work on the Long Bridge south of Sandpoint is scheduled to begin in early March to reinforce and protect the driving surface.
Taking advantage of the mild winter weather, crews are getting a jump start on this project early in the season by first grinding down the existing roadway. Crews will then return in the summer to resurface the bridge to provide better traction and protect it from regular wear and tear from traffic and the weather.
This initial phase is expected to take up to two weeks, and all work will be completed overnight from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. to avoid slowing down traffic during the day. Flaggers will be staged at either end of the bridge allowing a single, alternating lane of traffic to pass while crews work their way across the structure. This work is largely dependent on weather conditions. Digital messaging boards will be used to alert drivers ahead of the anticipated start date.
Work later this summer will take approximately one month to complete. During this time, drivers will encounter a similar experience during nighttime hours with traffic reduced to a single lane.
Project Manager Steve Nettleton explains that this work is necessary upkeep on the bridge surface.
“By doing this work now, we’re able to take a different approach to grinding the deck and get the work done much quicker,” Nettleton said.
Drivers should pay attention to digital messaging boards, and plan ahead for delays by utilizing Idaho’s 511 system for real-time updates.
The 2024 Aviation Safety Stand Down for the thousands of pilots and aviation enthusiasts, is just around the corner. This FREE event is slated for Saturday, March 9 at the Nampa Civic Center, from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
This year, The Idaho Division of Aeronautics (Aero) will focus on backcountry safety, including backcountry medical care. Since most accidents occur in the flight pattern, we have sessions on ways to reduce loss-of-control accidents. This will include a stall/spin refresher and a discussion of float-plane operations. See the schedule for more details.
This event is sponsored by Aero, which exists to “encourage, foster, and assist in the development of aeronautics in the state.” This includes managing 32 state-owned airports, helping Idaho airports with state and federal grants for maintenance and construction, assisting communities with zoning decisions near airports, promoting aviation safety, inspiring kids to enter careers in aviation, and coordinating aviation search and rescue.
If you are involved in aviation safety and wish to have tablespace at the event, please contact Aero, or simply want more info regarding the event, please email idaho.aeronautics@itd.idaho.gov or call 208-334-8775 for additional information.
Register with your FAA WINGS email address for WINGS Credit.
The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is beginning construction on the I-84, Karcher Interchange in Nampa on Monday as part of the Leading Idaho program. Improvements will increase safety and mobility at the interchange and along State Highway 55 (SH-55)/ Karcher Road between the westbound ramps and Sundance Road. Construction is expected to be complete in fall 2025.
Motorists will see overnight lane closures on I-84 starting Monday, Feb. 19. Crews will shift traffic to create a work zone and begin building the third lane on the overpass bridge.
During the project, motorists can expect:
All lanes open during the day.
I-84 overnight closures for traffic shifts, bridge work and girder placement.
Major work will take place at night from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. with one lane open in each direction on Karcher Road.
Bike lanes and sidewalks in the project area will be detoured.
Access to local businesses will be open.
Speed limits will be reduced.
“The Karcher Interchange’s design life has been outpaced by the huge amounts of growth Nampa has seen recently,” Resident Engineer Andrew Linder said. “The work on the interchange will account for this growth by adding capacity and improving safety. ITD is making every effort to minimize impacts to businesses in the area and the traveling public.”
Improvements will include:
Reconfiguring westbound and eastbound off-ramps to improve safety and traffic flow, and increase capacity.
Widening the interchange bridge to provide a dedicated lane for the westbound off-ramp traffic to travel westbound on Karcher Road (SH-55).
Adjusting signals at ramp intersections, Caldwell Blvd and Cassia St.
Adding a third westbound lane and dedicated right turn lane at the intersection of Karcher Road (SH-55) and Caldwell Boulevard.
Adding a pedestrian flashing beacon at the I-84 eastbound on-ramp and widening some sidewalks within project limits.
Repaving Karcher Road (SH-55) from the westbound on-ramps to Middleton Road.
This project is funded with Transportation Expansion and Congestion Mitigation (TECM) funds as a part of Governor Little’s Leading Idaho TECM program. This initiative allows ITD to address rapid growth and aging infrastructure in critical corridors throughout the state.
The Idaho Transportation Department has extended the online comment period for a project to improve State Highway 75 between Bellevue and Broadway Run. Community members are encouraged to visit the online open house and submit feedback until Feb. 28 at SH-75: Bellevue to Broadway Run | ITD Projects (idaho.gov).
Plans include widening SH-75 to two lanes in each direction and improving specific intersections between McKercher Boulevard and Timber Way, and between Birch Street and Fox Acres Road. Plans also include improvements to the Gannett Road intersection and transit improvements at the Broadway Run intersection.
ITD hosted an in-person open house on Jan. 30 in Hailey and originally planned to close the comment period today.
“We had an outstanding turnout at the open house in January with 180 people showing up,” Project Manager Mark Campbell said. “We want to ensure all community members have the opportunity learn about the project and send in their feedback, so we’re accepting comments for another two weeks.”
Got plans for the Big Game this weekend? The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) wants to remind football (and Taylor Swift) fans that plans aren’t complete until they include a sober ride home.
Idaho Office of Highway Safety (OHS) data shows that during the Big Game weekend in 2022, there were 20 impaired driving crashes in Idaho and one person was killed.
“Some fans are spending a lot of energy figuring out whether Taylor Swift will make it to the big game in time,” said Highway Safety Manager Josephine Middleton. “Don’t let your night turn into one of her songs like “Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve,” spend some time planning how you’re getting home after the game.”
If you’re hosting a party, make sure everyone has a plan to get home safely. That might include a designated driver, calling a rideshare or cab, or offering them a safe place to stay until they are sober.
The Idaho Transportation Department is hosting an online public meeting to inform the public about the design of an eastbound auxiliary lane on eastbound Interstate 84 between the Meridian Road and Eagle Road interchanges. This additional lane to enter and exit I-84 will reduce congestion between these interchanges, making it safer for drivers to access the freeway.
The online meeting provides the public with an opportunity to learn about design details. The project also involves necessary modifications for a two-lane eastbound on-ramp at the Meridian Interchange and a two-lane eastbound off-ramp at the Eagle Interchange. An additional right turn lane will be added to the eastbound off-ramp intersection at Eagle Road.
The comment period for the online meeting closes on Feb. 28.
