IDAHO FALLS – The Idaho Transportation Department is beginning two projects today along US-26 east of Idaho Falls. The first project consists of adding a 3-mile passing lane at Antelope Flat. The second project will add turning lanes into the rest area at the bottom of Clark Hill. Both jobs will take until October to complete.
While construction is underway at Antelope Flat there will be lane closures with flaggers to control traffic. For the Clark Hill project, ITD will keep one lane in each direction open.
Motorists are reminded to follow posted speed limits, obey flaggers, and drive cautiously through work areas.
Motorists are encouraged to plan ahead for temporary daytime lane reductions on Blue Lakes Boulevard this week as part of the continuing pavement rehabilitation project in Twin Falls.
The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) and its contractor, Idaho Materials & Construction, will be working 24 hour shifts to safely reopen all lanes of traffic from the Perrine Bridge to Pole Line Road. Unforeseen issues with stormwater drainage in the construction zone are requiring temporary daytime closures.
“Safety is our top priority, and ITD is working closely with IMC to reopen lanes during the day, and continue work during overnight hours as planned,” said ITD Resident Engineer Seth Helms. “ITD appreciates commuters for their patience during this important work.”
For the latest traffic updates, please visit 511.idaho.gov or call 511.
As summer travel increases to Idaho’s mountain destinations, ITD’s Southwest Idaho office will also increase flagging resources at the busy State Highway 55 and Banks-Lowman Road intersection in Banks. ITD will flag traffic on the eight weekends expected to have the highest number of travelers due to local events and holidays. These weekends were selected in cooperation with a community working group involving Boise and Valley County community members.
Sunday, June 19
Independence Day, Monday, July 4
All remaining Sundays in July: 10, 17, 24, and 31
Sunday, August 7
Labor Day, Monday, September 5
Plan ahead for any road trip by checking 511.idaho.gov for the latest road conditions, and itdprojects.org for road construction work happening across the state. ITD asks drivers to please do your part to keep roads safe and prevent crashes. Slow down, drive engaged, and always buckle up.
Construction is expected to begin June 27 on State Highway 21 northwest of Stanley. In the coming weeks, crews will replace an old culvert at Elk Creek (milepost 123.06) with a new bridge.
“The current culvert was placed in 1966 and has exceeded its life expectancy,” ITD Designer Andrew Young said. “The new structure will be both wider and longer and will serve motorists for decades to come.”
The new bridge also aims to improve fish habitat in the area.
“When we build the new structure, we will be providing a better natural channel that will be more favorable to fish,” stated Young. “We will also have temporary fish passage in place during construction.”
While construction is underway, traffic will be reduced to a single lane. Temporary traffic signals will be in place to direct motorists through the work zone. Drivers should anticipate delays up to 15 minutes when traveling through the area.
Braun Jensen is the primary contractor on this project that is expected to be complete this fall.
A new study is now underway to take a broader look at the Huetter Bypass and traffic flow in the Coeur d’Alene metro area.
“With the rapid growth in the area causing a huge increase in traffic, our existing routes are experiencing low levels of service, and drivers don’t have quick ways to get around,” said Joey Sprague, who will manage the study for the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD). “With this study we’ll look at the way the local and state routes in the area work as a system, and that starts by evaluating the work that’s already been done so that we can chart a path forward.”
The first phase of the study will review work previously done by the Kootenai Metropolitan Planning Organization on the idea to expand Huetter Road to serve as another north-south freeway connecting I-90 and U.S. Highway 95 north of Hayden.
The study is expected to encompass a larger area between I-90, US-95, State Highway 53 and State Highway 41 to identify the pain points and how to address them given growth in the area. Solutions may include a range of options, like modifying existing routes or building new ones.
“Right now it’s about understanding regional traffic and how it interplays with the original Huetter corridor study, especially since some studies are dated,” Sprague said. “For this first phase of the study, we’re just gathering data. In future phases of the study, we’ll let the data point to options including and beyond the bypass, and once we have vetted some of those ideas, we’ll ask the public to weigh in.”
ITD officially took over planning for the bypass in October and is managing the latest study being conducted by HDR, Inc.
“It took more time than expected to determine the scope of the study and hire a company to do the work, but the study will now officially kick off this month,” Sprague said. “We expect to have more information available on it later this summer.”
ASHTON – Beginning July 6 the Idaho Transportation Department will commence work on two projects at Ashton. The first project, at the intersection of US-20 and SH-47 in Ashton, will consist of extensive work to improve safety and traffic flow. The second project will be a pavement overlay along SH-47 beginning near North Fremont High School and continuing to Bear Gulch.
The US-20 / SH-47 intersection project will consist of a stoplight, new curb and sidewalks, storm sewer work, and pavement. Work is scheduled to be completed in October. Traffic patterns will change periodically to allow for construction.
A public meeting will be held on Wednesday June 29, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at the Ashton City hall for those that wish to discuss construction plans at the intersection and express concerns.
The paving project on SH-47 east of Ashton will last for approximately 15 days. Crews will be microsurfacing the roadway to improve and protect the road surface. During work there will be single lane closures and pilot cars to control traffic flow.
Motorists are asked to watch for workers and equipment, follow all traffic signs and flaggers, and reduce speeds to posted limits. Traffic control and safety devices will be changing often to accommodate construction activities.
Citizens with questions regarding the US-20 / SH-47 intersection can contact HK Contractors at (208) 523-6600.
Those with questions regarding the SH-47 microsurfacing project can call the Idaho Transportation Department District 6 office at (208) 745-7781.
BOISE – After 61 years at the State Street location, the Idaho Transportation Department is moving to a new location on Chinden Boulevard. By Thursday (June 16), all departmental public services will be housed at the new Chinden campus, at 11311 Chinden Boulevard, Building 8, in a suite of offices purchased by the State of Idaho several years ago to house Idaho’s State Agencies.
Building 8 is a temporary home for most of ITD’s Headquarters employees affected by the flooding at HQ at the turn of 2022. The Idaho Transportation Board, after deeming that it was in the State’s best interest for the old building to not be repaired and to be permanently vacated, recently approved the remodel of Building 3 for the future home of ITD’s employees from Headquarters.
“During all of this transition, ITD has continued to be open for business to serve the citizens of Idaho,” said Chief Administrative Officer Dave Tolman. “Only the location is changing,” he added, “not the high level of service provided.”
The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is nearing a major milestone in the Interstate 84 widening project in Caldwell, bringing extended ramp closures and traffic changes near the Franklin Road Interchange (Exit 29).
Between June and September, each of the ramps at the Franklin Road Interchange will close for six weeks. The closures will allow crews to rebuild the ramps and connect them to new lanes on I-84.
Although exact dates are subject to change due to weather and other factors, ITD expects:
On June 19, the westbound off-ramp will close at 10 p.m. and remain closed for six weeks. Drivers will be detoured to 10th Avenue, where they can turn around and access Franklin Road from eastbound I-84.
On June 26, the eastbound on-ramp will close at 10 p.m. and remain closed for six weeks. Traffic will detour down 21st Avenue to Blaine Street, then west to the 10th Avenue Interchange.
On June 26, Linden Street will close under I-84 at 10 p.m. until late 2022 while crews finish the reconstruction of the underpass.
Once these two ramps re-open in late July, the other two ramps will close until early September. In addition to the extended closures, motorists can expect occasional nighttime lane restrictions on I-84 and ramps in the area. To request email or text updates about upcoming closures, text 84CORRIDOR to 1-866-483-8422.
“We have been working with our engineers and community leaders since 2020 to determine the best way to deliver this complex project while keeping traffic moving,” said Shawna King, ITD Design/Construction Engineer. “We ask motorists to be patient this summer and drive safely. We will keep everyone informed and look for every opportunity to expedite the process.”
ITD is expanding I-84 to three lanes in each direction between the Franklin Road Interchange in Caldwell and the Karcher Interchange in Nampa. Traffic will be shifted to the newest lanes in the I-84 median in June, allowing crews to begin rebuilding the existing outside lanes.
Construction on I-84 in Caldwell will be complete in 2023. For more information, visit itdprojects.org/84corridor, email 84corridor@itd.idaho.gov or call (208) 334-8002.
The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is holding an in-person meeting tomorrow (June 14) to share plans for widening Interstate 84 from the South Jerome Interchange to the Twin Falls Interchange. The meeting will be held at Con Paulos Chevrolet in Jerome from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
The meeting will be held in open-house format and provide members of the public an opportunity to review design plans and provide input. If individuals are unable to participate at the in-person meeting, a self-guided online meeting option will be available from June 14 until June 28 at itdprojects.org/84jerometotwin.
The interstate serves as a major corridor through South-central Idaho and beyond, with traffic counts expected to double over the next 20 years. The purpose of this project is to increase capacity and improve safety. Once funding has been confirmed, construction may start as early as 2023.
“Widening this section of I-84 will allow us to proactively address capacity and safety needs between Jerome and Twin Falls,” said ITD Engineering Manager Crystal Craig. “We are advancing this project to construction as soon as possible and plan to keep the public involved through each phase.”
This design project is funded with Transportation Expansion and Congestion Mitigation (TECM) funds as part of Governor Little’s “Leading Idaho” initiative. The 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. Construction funding will be identified at the time that the project is ready to advertise for construction bids.
For more information on the project or to request updates, visit the project website at itdprojects.org/84jerometotwin or text 84JTF to 866-483-8422.
Both lanes of U.S. Highway 95 south of Lapwai at milepost 296 are now open following repairs to damage caused by flooding earlier this week.
Floodwaters from Lapwai Creek first began eroding the northbound lane on Monday morning, and the Idaho Transportation Department reduced traffic to one lane. Repairs began later that day, with crews bringing in rock to replace what was lost and prevent further damage.
“We are happy to return US-95 to normal condition,” Operations Engineer Jared Hopkins said.
Traffic impacts and highway conditions are available 24/7 on 511.idaho.gov.
June 14 2022 update
US-95 south of Lapwai remains partially closed due to flood damage
Lapwai Creek flooding and washing out US-95
One lane of U.S. Highway 95 remains closed south of Lapwai at milepost 296 due to flood damage.
“With floodwaters receding and drier days in the forecast, we feel we are past the emergency,” Operations Engineer Jared Hopkins said. “Yesterday, we rushed to get an excavator on scene to start placing large boulders against the bank to save what remained of the northbound lane of US-95. In one spot, it had washed away to the center.”
Crews aim to finish placing rock and reopen both lanes of the highway by the end of the week.
“We are working hard to have two lanes open with an asphalt surface as soon as we can,” Hopkins said. “Then we’ll start focusing on more permanent repairs later this summer.”
Water over the roadway has also been reported on State Highway 6 between Potlatch and Deary. Before traveling drivers should check conditions on their routes at 511.idaho.gov.
June 13 2022
Flooding closes one lane of US-95 south of Lapwai, more rain in the forecast
Flooding washes away shoulder on US-95 and closes a lane
Earlier this morning, the Idaho Transportation Department closed one lane of U.S. Highway 95 four miles south of Lapwai at milepost 296 due to flooding.
“Flooding of Lapwai Creek has washed away the shoulder next to the northbound lane and may be undermining the highway,” Operations Engineer Jared Hopkins said. “Closing that portion of the roadway is necessary to ensure safety.”
More rain is expected today and tonight.
“Until the rain stops and the creek drops, there’s nothing we can do except monitor the flooding and close the highway if necessary,” Hopkins said. “We want to put drivers on notice that we may need to shut it down.”
Before traveling drivers should check conditions on this highway and others at 511.idaho.gov.
