Repaving next week on I-84 near Blacks Creek to cause closures

Repaving has been rescheduled to start next week due to equipment availability. Drivers should pay attention to road signage or check 511 for exact timing of impacts.

This week maintenance workers with the Idaho Transportation Department will resurface part of I-84 between Eisenman Road (Exit 59A) and Blacks Creek Road (Exit 64).

Crews will repave the worst sections of the slow lane heading eastbound. Once repairs begin tomorrow near Eisenman Road, the eastbound on-ramp and one lane on I-84 will be closed. The ramp closure is expected to last one day, though work will continue on I-84 for up to three days. Workers will time repairs to avoid morning and evening commutes.

Westbound travelers will not be affected. Access to the Blacks Creek Rest Area will remain mostly open, save for a few hours tomorrow.

Travelers are reminded to know before they go and check 511.idaho.gov for traffic impacts.

I-15 resurfacing work to begin Monday north of Rose

POCATELLO – Beginning Monday August 7, the Idaho Transportation Department will be resurfacing Interstate 15 from the Rose Interchange 7 miles north to North Lava Rocks. Crossovers will be used to move traffic to the other side of the interstate while work is being done. Motorists should expect reduced speeds during construction. Construction will pause each Friday morning to accommodate weekend traffic.

Work will continue until September 1 when it will be paused for a week to accommodate increased traffic during the Eastern Idaho State Fair. Afterward the project will resume for four additional weeks.

Motorists should check https://511.idaho.gov or download the 511 app for the latest information on road construction.

“Do the math. Save a life.” New math program teaches safe driving and data science

The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD), Idaho Department of Education, Idaho STEM Action Center, and Horizon Credit Union have teamed up on new math resources for Algebra 1 students. A coalition of math educators from across Idaho developed a series of lessons, called “Do the math. Save a life,” that use Idaho Office of Highway Safety (OHS) crash data to teach Algebra and data analysis skills.

“So much data is thrown out in the world these days, and it’s important to empower students to be critical consumers of data. Being able to understand and interpret data and statistics is an essential skill for modern society,” explained Josie Derrick, Lead Math Innovator at One Stone and part of the team that created the lessons. “By providing students with opportunities to use math as a tool to think critically and engage in discussions where there may not be a “right” answer, we build skills for students to become more engaged citizens in the future.”

OHS collects data on all crashes that happen on Idaho roads and displays it on publicly available dashboards. The new math program uses that data to provide examples of math in real life and teaches students lessons like scatter plots, frequency tables, and analyzing claims.

“We are all more curious about what’s happening in our own communities,” said Erin Corwine, part of the team that created the lessons and K-8 Mathematics Instructional Specialist at the Developing Mathematical Thinking Institute, Idaho. “Because the dataset is specific to Idaho, students can interact with data points unique to their counties, and in some cases, even specific intersections, so there’s relevance in the learning.”

OHS data shows Idaho teens are 2.5 times more likely to be involved in a crash than other age groups.

“Not only are these lessons teaching them math, but they are also teaching teens about the dangers of distracted, aggressive, and impaired driving,” said Highway Safety Manager Josephine Middleton. “We want them to understand the risks to they can make safe choices once they start learning how to drive.”

Horizon Credit Union provided financial support for the creation of the math lessons.

The “Do the math. Save a life” program will be presented to math teachers from around the state at the Imagine the Places You’ll Go STEM Conference on August 3 and 4 in Boise. Part of the conference will include a field trip to see the mathematics that ITD employees use in their jobs. Boise Police will conduct an actual car crash demonstration and will be available to discuss the science behind crash investigations. Members of the media are welcome to observe the field trip on August 4 from 1-3:30 pm at the ITD Annex, 3293 W Jordan St, Boise, ID 83703.

Educators who want to review and use the new lessons can download materials from https://shift-idaho.org/do-the-math/.

SH-53 construction starts Monday in Rathdrum

Construction will begin Monday on State Highway 53 in Rathdrum to add a center turn lane in city limits. Once complete in 2024, the center turn lane will keep through traffic moving while providing other drivers a safe area to wait while trying to turn.

All lanes will remain open during construction, but the speed limit will be reduced to 25 mph. Drivers can expect minimal impacts during this first year of construction as crews replace a culvert for Rathdrum Creek and build ditches to help with drainage. Widening to add a center turn lane won’t start until next year.

“Although this project won’t be as impactful out of the gate, drivers should still plan extra time as there are several other work zones on SH-53,” Project Manager Steven Bakker said.

Commuters on SH-53 will continue to encounter reduced speeds in other work zones near Rathdrum, including widening efforts to the west near Hauser and intersection improvements at Ramsey Road to the east.

Travelers are reminded to check 511.idaho.gov to stay up to date on construction delays.

Open house for US-12 Clearwater Memorial Bridge rescheduled

Clearwater Memorial Bridge Improvements Open House

LEWISTON — A new date for the U.S. Highway 12 Memorial Bridge Open House has been selected. The informal meeting will now be held be on Tuesday, September 12th from 2 p.m. – 7 p.m. PST at the Hells Canyon Grand Hotel. All members from the public and the surrounding community are invited.

Next month ITD will share renderings of the bridge improvements and have staff on hand to answer questions. The department will also share plans to accommodate drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists during the first phase of construction.

View one of the renderings.

For more information about the project please visit itdprojects.org/us12memorialbridge

Impacts to Seltice Way begin Aug. 7 as part of I-90/SH-41 Interchange reconstruction

Impacts will change beginning Monday, August 7, in the work zone to upgrade the I-90 and State Highway 41 Interchange in Post Falls as work shifts to Seltice Way. The $78 million project is funded through Governor Little’s Leading Idaho program and is in its second year of construction.

Changes to traffic impacts include:

Only one eastbound lane on Seltice Way will be open between Herborn Place and Ross Point Road. It will be shared by both through and turning traffic. This is expected to increase congestion for drivers heading north on SH-41 or east on I-90.
Two westbound lanes on Seltice Way will be open between Herborn Place and Ross Point Road. Those lanes will be shared by both through and turning traffic.
Two new temporary signals at the intersections of Seltice Way with Herborn Place and Ross Point Road will be turned on early next week. The permanent signals in the area will be deactivated and removed.
Drivers will not be able to access Seltice Way from Herborn Place for the next two months.
Left turns from Ross Point Road onto Seltice Way will be prohibited.

Drivers will still be able to access the freeway but should plan for congestion.

“Next week is a major shift in impacts and really the first time we will be closing lanes on Seltice Way,” Project Manager Shannon Stein said. “Travelers will still be able to access local businesses on the route.”

Bicycle and pedestrian pathways will remain open with occasional detours when necessary.

This phase of work on Seltice Way is expected to be complete by the fall of 2023. Crews will transition back Seltice Way to align it with the new I-90/SH 41 Interchange later in construction.

Crews continue to build temporary and permanent bridges on I-90. All construction is anticipated to be done in 2025. To learn about the future I-90/SH-41 interchange and how it will function, watch this video.

To stay informed on regularly scheduled nighttime closures, sign up for updates by emailing info@i90corridor.com or visit itdprojects.org/i90sh41ic for more information. Live traffic impacts can also be found at 511.idaho.gov.

Governor Little’s Leading Idaho initiative allowed the project to begin one year earlier than expected and has enabled ITD to address rapid growth and build critical infrastructure today across the state that would otherwise take many years to fund and build.

ITD seeks Public Information Officer to serve SW Idaho region

The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is looking for a full-time Public Information Officer to serve the Southwest Idaho regional office located in Boise, Idaho. The ideal candidate will have experience in the transportation field or familiarity with transportation issues, and will also be media savvy.

This individual will make a difference daily, and will be part of an award-winning agency, dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in Idaho through transportation. At ITD, every employee is critical to the mission as we strive to foster an innovative, collaborative workplace where employees can grow and do their best work. This opening is an opportunity to use your media relations, writing, and collaboration skills to promote the department’s mission.

The PIO will join the department’s Office of Communication professionals statewide in telling the story of one of the best transportation departments in the country. Candidates must have strong writing skills, experience interacting with news media, an understanding of how to use social media effectively, and the ability to develop successful outreach campaigns, facilitate public meetings and assist with internal communication.

The position closes Aug. 12.

Repairs on South Fork Teton River Bridge in Rexburg

REXBURG—The Idaho Transportation Department will begin resurfacing the South Fork Teton River Bridge on State Highway 33 on July 31, with repairs expected to last until the end of August.

Repairs will replace the surface of the bridge to extend the life of the bridge. In addition, the sidewalk and walls will undergo minor work.

One lane will be closed in each direction, and drivers will not be able to make left turns within the work zone. Pedestrians will be able to cross the bridge throughout construction and access to nearby businesses will also remain open.

For updates on traffic impacts on state highways and interstates, drivers should check 511.idaho.gov before traveling.

Bridge repair on North 26th West Bridge in Idaho Falls begin July 31

IDAHO FALLS-The West 49^th North Bridge over I-15 will close for two weeks starting Monday for repairs

No through traffic allowed between North 26th West (Old Butte Rd) and Lindsay Boulevard during construction.

Resurfacing and other repairs will prolong the life of the West 49^th Bridge and will make it safer for travelers.

Drivers are encouraged to obey traffic laws, traffic signs, and construction signs while traveling through work zones.

For updates on traffic impacts on state highways and interstates, drivers should check 511.idaho.gov before traveling.

I-84 westbound off-ramp at Franklin Road (Exit 29) now open

Reconstruction work requiring the closure of the westbound I-84 off-ramp at Franklin Road (Exit 29) in Caldwell is finished, and the off-ramp is now open to traffic.

The Idaho Transportation Department thanks motorists for their patience during the closure that allowed the contractor to safely expedite reconstruction of the off-ramp over the past six weeks. The work contributes to ongoing improvements to U.S. Highway 20/26 between I-84 and Middleton Road.

The contractor completed the work requiring the closure yesterday afternoon. Workers may still be in the area periodically, so drivers are asked to be aware and engaged in the project area.

Motorists will see changing traffic patterns in the coming weeks on US-20/26 between I-84 and Middleton Road. Travel lanes will shift to the north as work is focused on the south side of the highway. Drivers should pay particular attention to the lane configuration between Aviation Way and Smeed Parkway by slowing down and following construction signs.

Reconstruction of US-20/26 between I-84 and Middleton Road is scheduled to be complete in 2024.

To learn more about the project and sign up for construction updates, visit itdprojects.org/projects/chindenwest.