As winter approaches, the Idaho Transportation Department and the Idaho State Police are teaming up to offer free winter driving classes in the Treasure Valley.
Three sessions are currently scheduled for Oct. 29, Nov. 12, and Nov. 26, beginning at 7 p.m. each evening. Classes will take place in person at ITD’s District Office in Boise at 8150 W Chinden Boulevard.
Last year, ITD and ISP helped more than 170 Treasure Valley residents prepare for winter driving through similar classes. These sessions focus on tips, preparation, and safe driving techniques but do not include hands-on or behind-the-wheel training.
The classes are designed to help drivers prepare for Idaho’s winter conditions covering topics like vehicle readiness, proper equipment, defensive driving techniques, and how to safely share the road with snowplows. Instructors include state troopers and ITD employees who bring firsthand experience from years of working on Idaho’s roads during severe weather.
The courses are open to all drivers but are especially useful for:
- New drivers (ages 14–17) including those who are currently enrolled in a driver’s education course
- Young drivers with limited winter experience
- New residents facing their first winter on Idaho roadways
Each participant must register online in advance.
- For details and registration links for classes throughout Idaho go to ITD’s Travel page.
BOISE — The Idaho Transportation Department and Office of Highway Safety are joining communities statewide to recognize Teen Traffic Safety Week, October 19–25, 2025. The week raises awareness about safe driving habits among teens and their families.
Teen drivers face unique risks on the road and are 2.6 times more likely to be in a crash. OHS encourages families, schools, and organizations to focus on four key safety reminders:
- Buckle up: Seat belts save lives. Every trip, every time.
- Avoid distractions: Keep phones and other distractions out of reach.
- Drive sober: Alcohol and drugs impair judgment and reaction time.
- Practice patience: Teens gain confidence through experience and mentorship.
“Teen drivers are among the most vulnerable on Idaho’s roads,” said Josephine Middleton, Highway Safety Manager. “By educating young drivers and their families, we can reduce crashes and make our roads safer for everyone.”
Middleton adds, “Our children are always watching and learning from us. If we tell our teens not to text and drive but they see us doing it, how much credibility do we really have? The best way to teach safe driving is to model it ourselves.”
OHS promotes safe driving through several initiatives:
- Backseat Driver’s Manual: Created with local students, this activity book teaches kids about safe driving and encourages family conversations.
- SHIFT Idaho: A statewide platform offering resources, materials, and community involvement opportunities focused on safe teen driving.
- Parent-Teen Driving Contracts: Helps families set clear expectations and responsibilities behind the wheel.
- Alive at 25: A defensive driving course that teaches young drivers how to make safe, responsible decisions.
- Driver Education Partnerships: In collaboration with the Idaho Department of Education and local driving schools, OHS supports quality driver education statewide.
Learn more about these programs and resources.
The Idaho Transportation Department invites the public to learn about construction plans for a new State Highway 52, Snake River Bridge in Payette during in-person and online public meetings.
The in-person meeting will be held in an open house format with no formal presentation. Representatives from both ITD and the Oregon Department of Transportation will be available to answer questions, share construction plans and gather feedback about upcoming bridge and roadway improvements.
In-person meeting details:
Date: Wednesday, Oct. 22,
Time: 5 to 7 p.m.
Location: Payette City Hall Chambers, 700 Center Ave.
Starting in 2027, ITD and ODOT plan to build a new structure over the Snake River. The project will take about two years to complete. The existing 72-year-old bridge has reached the end of its design life and will be replaced with a bridge that meets current highway standards.
During an initial public meeting in 2023, ITD heard concerns that a full bridge closure would negatively impact livelihoods, safety, and mobility. In response, the project team revised the plan to keep the bridge open during construction.
Those unable to attend in person are encouraged to participate online between Oct. 22 and Nov. 5 at sh52snakeriverbridge.com.
Starting Monday crews will resume work on rocky slopes near Riggins on U.S. Highway 95.
South of Riggins at milepost 189 in the vicinity of the Sheep Creek Rest Area, scalers will install reflective prisms on the rock face above the roadway to monitor slope movement and will remove loose rocks for safety.
Intermittent delays of up to 20 minutes between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. are likely for the next week. Flaggers will hold traffic in both directions to keep everyone safe with rocks coming off the slope. Crews will periodically allow one lane of traffic through the work zone.
North of Riggins at milepost 196.5, in the vicinity of “Bull’s Eye Corner,” crews will also close the shoulder and replace damaged signs as part of safety efforts that started last fall.
Rocks may be present in the roadway and motorists should always exercise caution when traveling though this river corridor.
Live traffic impacts across the region can be found by visiting 511.idaho.gov. Travelers can also dial 5-1-1 or download the app.
The Idaho Transportation Department will close the southbound right-turn lane on U.S. Highway 95 at Dufort Road starting at 5 a.m. tomorrow through 5 p.m. on Monday while crews widen it to make it easier and safer for traffic to turn.
Drivers will still be able to turn right onto Dufort Road, but they will do so from the southbound through lane. Because of this, ITD reminds all drivers to use extra caution. Through traffic should be prepared to slow for turning vehicles, and drivers entering the highway from Dufort Road should watch closely for oncoming traffic.
A reduced speed limit of 45 mph will be in place through the work zone on US-95.
This safety improvement follows consultation with regional agencies and law enforcement, who identified widening the turn lane as a quick, low-cost fix to help reduce crashes. The added width will shift turning traffic so it no longer blocks the view of oncoming traffic. This will improve sight distance for drivers on Dufort Road trying to turn onto US-95 and reduce the risk of collisions.
An interchange is planned for this intersection as part of the environmental re-evaluation of the Sagle corridor and ITD’s Proposed Action between Dufort Road and Lakeshore Drive. However, there is no funding for design or construction of that large-scale, long-term improvement at this time. As an added safety enhancement, Bonner County also recently installed flashing stop signs on Dufort Road.
BOISE – There’s still time for Idaho students to help name one of ITD’s hard-working snowplows! The Idaho Transportation Department’s 2nd annual ‘Name a Snowplow’ contest is open through the end of October.
Classrooms in grades 6–12 can team up to submit creative snowplow names and learn about winter driving safety along the way.
“Our snowplow drivers are thrilled to see students getting involved in this fun, educational opportunity that also highlights the importance of winter driving safety,” said Scott Stokes, Director of ITD.
Two plows in each of ITD’s six regions will receive student-chosen names, voted on by ITD employees. The winning names will be displayed right on the plows, and each winning classroom will get a special visit from “their” snowplow and driver for a winter safety presentation.
Don’t miss your chance to be part of this fun Idaho tradition in the making!
Teachers of grades 6–12 can submit entries or ask questions by emailing itdcommunication@itd.idaho.gov.
See full contest rules and view last year’s winners.
The Idaho Transportation Department is reminding drivers to plan ahead for delays on U.S. Highway 93 near Carey after roadway workers and equipment were nearly struck in the last two weeks by impatient drivers trying to pass in the work zone.
Crews are resurfacing US-93 to make it smoother and easier to drive. To complete the improvements, traffic has been reduced to a single lane with a pilot car and flaggers to guide drivers during the day. At night traffic relies on temporary signals. Impacts are expected to last until the end of September.
ITD has witnessed numerous incidents of drivers illegally trying to pass other vehicles and the pilot car. Some drivers have nearly struck flaggers and equipment.
“Our biggest concern is the risk to workers and other drivers in the work zone; the pilot car is intended to show traffic the path to follow and the appropriate speed to go,” District Engineer Jesse Barrus said. “Even beyond that, this could undo progress that’s been made, which means construction could go longer than needed.”
Drivers need to plan an extra 10 – 15 minutes to their commute times. Delays like this are shared via the 511 app or 511.idaho.gov so that drivers can plan ahead and know before they go.
Starting Sunday drivers will be able to take all six miles of the new four-lane section of U.S. Highway 95 from Reisenauer Hill to Moscow.
Drivers had only been able to travel the first five miles that opened in early July as crews needed to finish work at the Thorn Creek Bridge. With the bridge now complete, drivers can experience the route with minimal delays. Some construction will continue over the next several weeks as crews finish installing permanent barrier, signs, delineators and rumble strips.
Construction of this nearly $90 million realignment began in 2022 to shift the curving, two-lane highway to the east and expand it to four lanes. The new route was funded partially by Governor Little’s Leading Idaho program and was designed to be safer with a flatter grade, fewer curves and better access control.
“We are honored and pleased to provide this much-needed expansion to the region,” District Engineer Doral Hoff said. “Completing this last portion between Lewiston and Moscow gives drivers a safer and more efficient route.”
The project first began in 1999 when the Idaho Transportation Department started efforts to expand all of US-95 to four lanes from the top of Lewiston Hill to Moscow. This six-mile segment was the last to be improved, with most of the corridor undergoing construction in the early 2000s.
Interstate 84 will be closed under the Karcher Interchange Wednesday and Thursday so crews can paint stripes on the interstate.
- Eastbound will be closed Wednesday from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
- Westbound will be closed Thursday from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Motorists traveling eastbound will exit I-84 using the Karcher Interchange eastbound off-ramp (Exit 33) and reenter using the on ramp.
Motorists traveling westbound will:
- Exit I-84 at the Northside Interchange (Exit 35).
- Travel north on Northside Boulevard.
- Turn left onto Karcher Road.
- Use the Karcher Interchange westbound on-ramp to merge back onto westbound I-84.
Click here to view the detour maps.
The I-84, Karcher Interchange project has been underway since 2024 to enhance safety and improve mobility at the interchange and along Karcher Road in Nampa. Crews are expected to place final touches in late spring of 2026.
Stay informed by signing up for tests or emails by texting 84CORRIDOR to 1-866-483-8422 or visiting itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/karcheric. For questions, contact the project team at 208-334-8002. Maps and other details can also be found on the project website.
The Idaho Transportation Department will close Interstate 84 eastbound at Exit 57 (State Highway 21/Gowen Road) nightly beginning tonight through Thursday night to accommodate bridge repairs.
These closures are needed to facilitate safe environment while crew pave the bridge shoulders and finish bridge joint repairs that began in August.
The nightly closure will begin at 7:30 p.m. and end by 5 a.m. each morning. During the closure, all traffic must exit at Exit 57 and reenter I-84 eastbound using the on-ramp at the same location.
Drivers should plan for delays, follow posted detours and watch for crews and equipment in the work zone.
Travelers are encouraged to check 511.idaho.gov or the 511 mobile app for the latest road conditions, detour routes and traffic impacts.
