Up to twenty Idahoans interested in pursuing a career operating construction equipment or performing any of the associated construction or road-building trades like cement masonry, truck driving, carpentry, or concrete finishing are invited to apply for free training in Boise during a five-week course (April 17-May 25). ITD’s workforce development program ICONIC (Idaho Career Opportunities – Next In Construction) gives graduates an opportunity to land a job in the fast-growing construction industry paying on average of $43,000-$52,000 per year.
Recipients will get to showcase their skills to potential employers at the end of the course. Since 2020, approximately 80% of the 85 graduates have found employment in the industry within six months of completing the program – many within days or weeks.
“Construction is one of the most in-demand job fields in Idaho,” said Workforce Development Program Manager Jessika Doglietto. “There is no better time than now to seek a career in construction.”
Applicants must be at least 18 years of age, possess a valid driver’s license, and be able to pass a drug-screening test.
For more information and to apply, please visit the program’s website at iconic.idaho.gov.
From speeding, to weaving, to failing to yield there’s more to aggressive driving than just road rage. From March 19-30, the Idaho Office of Highway Safety (OHS) is teaming up with law enforcement partners across the state for targeted aggressive driving enforcement. Expect to see more officers on the road to stop aggressive driving behavior.
Preliminary data from OHS shows that in 2023 there were nearly 14,000* aggressive driving crashes in Idaho and 103* people died.
Contributing factors used by OHS to identify aggressive driving include speeding, driving too fast for conditions, following too closely, failing to yield, and failing to obey a stop sign or signal.
“Aggressive driving is a choice, which means it’s within our power to change,” explained Highway Safety Manager Josephine Middleton. “Choosing to drive engaged and safely may save your life or someone else’s.”
It is incredibly important for parents to talk to their teens about the dangers of aggressive driving because teens are overrepresented in aggressive driving crashes. OHS found that in 2022, drivers ages 19 and younger were four times as likely to be involved in aggressive driving crashes as all other drivers. Drivers under the age of 25 represent more than one-third (35%) of the drivers involved in aggressive driving crashes that year.
While the term aggressive driving leads many people to think of road rage, many behaviors are considered aggressive driving. Road rage is a violent criminal act that falls on the extreme end of aggressive driving.
If you encounter an aggressive or violent driver do not engage. Safely get out of their way as soon as possible. If you can get a vehicle description, license number, and location report the information to law enforcement.
*Preliminary data subject to change
Construction to upgrade the Heyburn Interchange (Exit 211) is scheduled to begin Monday (March 11), adding another work zone on Interstate 84 as work began at the nearby Burley Interchange (Exit 208) in late February. Both multi-year projects include replacing the interchanges, with funding coming from Governor Little’s Leading Idaho program.
The 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.
On Monday, crews will mobilize into the area and begin setting up the work zone. Nighttime lane closure are not anticipated until early April when they place barrier and start removing vegetation in the median.
Upgrading the interchange will take until late 2026 and is expected to cost $90.1 million. Drivers can generally expect:
- All lanes on I-84 will be open during the day. Drivers 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.
- Lane closures and traffic shifts on State Highway 24 where it crosses underneath the interstate.
The new interchange will be shifted to the east and feature longer ramps to access I-84 and two new signals to control ramp traffic. The existing loop ramps will be removed, and the I-84 bridges will be replaced. View the detailed design here. Download a drone shot of the interchange before construction.
This year, the contractor will work on building temporary lanes in the median to shift traffic onto, start reconstructing westbound lanes with concrete and form embankments for future ramps.
Nighttime lane closures initially anticipated at the Burley Interchange in late February have been delayed by weather. To be alerted when those lane closures begin, visit the project website to sign up for email updates. Live traffic impacts can always be checked at 511.idaho.gov.
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.
Next week work will resume at the Interstate 84 Kimberly Interchange as crews continue to rebuild it to handle more traffic.
Drivers should plan for daytime lane closures on I-84 as early as Monday (March 11), pending weather conditions.
Traffic will remain shifted to the newly constructed northbound lanes on the bridge going over the interstate. Over the next two weeks, crews will demolish the southbound lanes of the overpass.
Lane closures on both I-84 and SH-50 will remain in place for several months, even after bridge demolition is complete. Throughout construction drivers can expect reduced speed limits, traffic shifts and short-duration ramp closures.
Reconstruction of the interchange includes additional space for turning lanes, sidewalks and a pedestrian fence on the SH-50 bridge. It is also designed to provide extra room for potential future expansion of I-84 underneath the bridge, though nothing is planned at this time.
Work began in June 2023, and since then crews have rebuilt half of the SH-50 bridge and part of all the ramps as well as repaved SH-50 near the bridge. For more information visit I-84/SH-50: Kimberly Interchange | ITD Projects (idaho.gov).
Construction should wrap up in the fall of 2024. Travelers are urged to download the 511 app or visit 511.idaho.gov to stay up to date on traffic impacts.
Beginning Monday, crews with the Idaho Transportation Department will close the eastbound off-ramp at Exit 15 on Interstate 90 in Coeur d’Alene to remove hazard trees. The ramp will be closed daily from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Thursday.
Removing unhealthy trees in the area will reduce the risk for them to fall during windstorms onto traffic, adjacent structures, and utilities. Taking out the trees will also mean less pine needles and debris that could build up and clog the drainage system.
During the closure drivers can access downtown by exiting the freeway at Exit 14 and taking 15th Street south to Sherman Avenue. The next available off-ramp for drivers is Exit 17 at Mullan Trail Road two miles to the east.
Signs are in place throughout the I-90 corridor in Coeur d’Alene to alert travelers of the closure.
Crews will perform similar work in the coming weeks on the eastbound off-ramp at Exit 14, which will also require intermittent ramp closures for safety. Messaging boards will be used to alert motorists and provide alternate route information.
Information will also be available on Idaho 511.
With St. Patrick’s Day around the corner, it’s important that everyone celebrate safely, and get a sober ride home. Expect more police on the roads looking to stop drunk driving. The Idaho Office of Highway Safety (OHS) is working with law enforcement to increase patrols during the holiday weekend to keep impaired drivers off the road.
“If you are celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with a pint or two, don’t rely on luck to get home safely. Plan ahead for a ride home with a sober driver, and remember, always wear your seatbelt,” advised Impaired Driving Program Specialist Lisa Losness.
OHS data shows that in 2022, 51% of all fatalities on Idaho roads were the result of impaired driving. Only 23% of the people killed in those crashes were wearing seat belts. If you celebrate this weekend, keep your community and yourself safe by using a rideshare, cab or designated driver.
The Idaho Transportation Department will reach the halfway point this spring in a four-year reconstruction of the I-90/SH-41 interchange in Post Falls. Motorists can expect several changes throughout the construction zone in 2024.
The 2024 construction season will include reconstructing multiple bridges on I-90 and constructing a temporary westbound bridge over SH-41. Crews will continue working on Seltice Way, I-90 and SH-41. Download an overview of 2024 construction activities.
“This is one of the most complex interchanges in the state, with multiple bridges and intersecting roadways,” said ITD Project Manager Shannon Stein. “Our crews have made outstanding progress while keeping the interchange open for daytime commuters.”
Traffic impacts in 2024 will include:
- Ongoing nighttime closures on SH-41 for the next several weeks during pile-driving.
- Lane closures on SH-41 and Mullan Avenue by late March or early April.
- Speed limit reductions (55 mph on I-90 and 25 mph on SH-41, Mullan Avenue, and Seltice Way).
- Intermittent lane restrictions on I-90 at night (8 p.m. to 5 a.m., and 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. during special events). Two lanes will remain open in both directions of I-90 during the day with reduced shoulder widths.
- Additional delays, noise, and nighttime lighting when necessary. Live traffic impacts are posted at idaho.gov.
“The work zone will continue to change from day to day,” said Stein. “The best way to stay informed about construction is to sign up for email updates at itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/i90sh41ic or by calling 208-738-4190.”
To learn about the future interchange and how it will function, watch this video.
The Transportation Expansion and Congestion Mitigation (TECM) funds through Governor Little’s “Leading Idaho” initiative has allowed this $78 million interchange reconstruction project to begin earlier than expected. This program has allowed ITD to address rapid growth and build critical infrastructure today that would otherwise have taken many years to fund and build.
Construction is expected to be completed in 2026 and will provide enhanced safety and mobility for motorists in North Idaho.
Sixteen, 96-foot girders that weigh 77,963 pounds each will be transported March 13 and 14 to begin building the Interstate 84, State Highway 16 Interchange as part of the Leading Idaho program.
Six bridges along SH-16 are being built with girders made in Caldwell. In total, Contech Engineered Solutions will build 57 girders and the retaining walls for the I-84, SH-16 Interchange. The bridge supports will be used at Ten Mile Creek, McMillan Overpass, Quasi Place, Five Mile Creek, Cherry Lane and I-84.
SH-16 is a testament to the job creation and economic opportunities that come from road construction projects.
Contech employs 52 people at their Caldwell location. The local company says road construction projects like this have a positive effect on many Idaho businesses.
“The materials to make these are local. The bar we buy is from a local supplier. The concrete and aggregate come locally from Idaho. We try to support the local community as much as possible. We are very proud of the work we do here,” Contech Engineered Solutions Sales Manager Lee Wegner said.
The multi-year project encompasses more than four miles of new highway from I-84 to U.S. 20/26 (Chinden Boulevard). Beyond the jobs that come from building a new highway, the project creates better connectivity to Gem County, promising a future of increased accessibility and growth.
This project is funded with Transportation Expansion and Congestion Mitigation (TECM) funds as a part of Governor Little’s Leading Idaho program. This initiative allows ITD to address rapid growth and aging infrastructure in critical corridors throughout the state.
Contech is also constructing girders for the Simco Road Bridge near Mountain Home and the bridge under SH-55 in the Avimor development.
At approximately 11 a.m. today there will be a rolling roadblock on Interstate 15 between Exit 89 and Exit 93 to allow a power line to be restrung over the interstate. Motorists should expect to be slowed down and delayed about five minutes while travelling through the area.
UPDATE: Due to weather, the start date for this project has been shifted to later this month. Pay attention to signage near the work zone for the start of traffic impacts and visit itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/us20rexburg to sign up for email updates.
The Idaho Transportation Department will begin early construction activities to replace two interchanges on U.S. Highway 20 in Rexburg. This summer the interchanges at University Boulevard (Exit 332) and State Highway 33 (Exit 333) will be rebuilt to be safer and more efficient.
Work this spring will include utility work and installing temporary traffic signals at Exit 333 to help with traffic flow during construction. Crews will also install permanent signals further north at the ramps for Salem Highway (Exit 337). Lane closures during these early activities will occur outside of peak traffic times as much as possible.
“Between March and June, we anticipate maintaining at least one lane of traffic in each direction on University Boulevard and SH-33,” Project Manager Conner Huffaker said.
Construction this summer will require each interchange to be fully closed, one at a time. Full closure of the interchange at University Boulevard is anticipated for the month of June. Full closure of the interchange at SH-33 is anticipated for the month of August. As one interchange is closed for construction, the other will remain open as a detour route. US-20 will remain open to through traffic throughout construction.
Crews anticipate that all work will be complete by late October.
When complete, both interchanges will be diverging diamond interchanges (DDIs). The DDI design was chosen after many years of analyzing technical data and working with the local community. Watch this video to learn how to drive through the new interchanges.
To sign up for construction updates, visit itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/us20rexburg.
ITD will host an open house on April 2 at Madison High School from 4 to 6 p.m. to share construction plans and impacts with the community. More information will also be made available online at that time.
HK Contractors is the contractor for this $22 million project.
