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On Monday (May 2), a closure is expected to begin at the intersection of U.S. Highway 93 and 100 S Road that will prevent drivers from accessing the highway from the west side. This is part of the ongoing widening project, which will transition the highway from two lanes to four to increase mobility and traffic flow in the area.

“Closing 100 South Road at US-93 will allow crews to tie the new roadway alignment into the existing approach,” said ITD Project Manager Jake Turrittin. “Through traffic on US-93 will not be impacted, but drivers will not be able to turn onto or from the western approach of 100 S Road.”

The closure is expected to be in place for approximately two weeks. An additional closure will be required for the east side of 100 S at a later date.

While crews tie in the new alignment, construction of the new southbound lanes will also continue. Motorists can anticipate minor delays and are encouraged to plan ahead if commuting through the area. Signage will also be in place to safely direct those traveling through the work zone.

Drivers are advised to use caution and watch for workers and heavy equipment entering and exiting the highway.

“This project will improve safety at the US-93 and 100 South intersection for both passenger and commercial vehicles,” explained Turrittin. “The end result will be a divided highway similar to what drivers encounter one mile south of this area.”

Idaho Materials and Construction is the prime contractor for this project, which is expected to be completed this fall.

After careful consideration, the Nez Perce Tribe (NPT) and the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) delayed advertising the project to build a new interchange at the east entrance of Aht’Wy Plaza for construction.

“Our goal was to start construction on the interchange this spring, but prices on materials have compelled both parties to step back and consider how to move forward,” ITD District Engineer Doral Hoff said.

Construction costs have increased with rising prices for essential materials like steel, concrete, asphalt and fuel. While the project will still make use of $19 million in grant funding, costs have escalated since the grant was announced in September of 2020.

In response to price increases, the NPT has contributed an additional $1.2 million to construction, but more recent estimates call for another $5.5 million. To cover this increase, the project was submitted for additional federal funding with recipients announced later this summer.

Advertisement will be delayed until this summer, at which point the NPT and ITD will decide how to proceed. If the project is awarded more money, construction could begin late this summer.

“The Tribe and ITD are still committed to working together to see this project through, despite any funding challenges,” NPT Transportation Manager Mary Beth Frank Clark said.

Download renderings of the design of the interchange.

This interchange project is not the only project to be delayed due to cost increases—last week the Idaho Transportation Board rejected the bid for the project to resurface eight miles of US-12 between Orofino and Greer. That project will not be advertised again until fall for construction next spring.

“Inflation and supply chain issues continue to make construction a challenging time for transportation departments across the nation,” Hoff said. “At ITD we budget increases for every project every year due to inflation, but we were not expecting such severe circumstances.”

ITD staff will continue to monitor guidance from national transportation economists and results from bid openings to avoid delaying additional projects. The department is also partnering with the Associated General Contractors of Idaho to limit the effects of inflation.

The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) begins construction to widen State Highway 44 between State Highway 16 and Linder Road near Star and Eagle on Monday, April 25. Improvements include an additional lane in each direction, wider shoulders, and dedicated right turn lanes at major side streets.

During construction drivers should expect the speed limit lowered to 45 mph and lanes reduced in size from 12 to 11 feet wide. One lane in each direction will remain open during daytime hours throughout the project.

“The large amount of growth in the area has transformed this corridor. The work on this section of State Highway 44 is meant to reduce traffic congestion and improve safety for all road users,” said ITD Design and Construction Engineer Daris Bruce. “Please remember to pay attention and slow down in the work zone.”

Work is expected to wrap up in August 2022.

SH-44 is the only east-west highway that links Canyon County to Ada County north of the Boise River. It connects Caldwell, Middleton, Star, Eagle, and Garden City. Development in the area has changed this once rural corridor into a mix of residential subdivisions and businesses.

To sign up for construction updates, text 44Widening to 1-866-483-8422 or visit the project website at itdprojects.org/SH4416toLinder.

Please plan ahead for Interstate 84 ramp closures and delays over the weekend of April 22-25 between Caldwell and Nampa. As work continues to widen I-84 through Canyon County, beginning Friday, April 22, I-84 traffic will shift from the outside lanes to the new median lanes between Ustick Road and Karcher Road. Please drive carefully and watch for signs.

Speed will be reduced to 45 mph overnight with one lane open in each direction. Both lanes will be open during the day. Additional impacts include the following:

• The westbound on-ramp at Karcher will be closed all weekend, from Friday, April 22 at 10 p.m. to Monday, April 25 at 6 a.m. Traffic will be detoured down eastbound I-84 to Northside Boulevard. Motorists can then enter westbound I-84 at the Northside on-ramp.
• The eastbound off-ramp at Karcher will close at 10 p.m. on Saturday, April 23 and will re-open at 7 a.m. on Sunday, April 24. Traffic will be detoured to the Northside Boulevard eastbound off-ramp.

See detour maps and video below. This work is weather dependent and will be rescheduled if necessary.

This weekend is the first of three shifts that will take place to move traffic into the new median lanes on I-84 between Franklin Road and Karcher Road. Additional shifts will occur later this spring and summer. Once traffic is shifted, crews will start working on improvements to the outside lanes.

Construction is expected to be complete in summer 2023.

For more information about the I-84 widening project, visit itdprojects.org/84corridor or text 84CORRIDOR to 1-866-483-8422 to request construction updates. You can also contact ITD at 84corridor@itd.idaho.gov and (208) 334-8002.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57JfaKRyYps

The Idaho Transportation Department will host an open house on Thursday, April 21, for construction later this summer on U.S. Highway 95 between Sagle Road and Lakeshore Drive.

The open house will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Northern Lights building at 421 Chevy Street in Sagle. Information about the project’s timeline, construction impacts and future plans for the US-95 corridor will be provided. No formal presentation will be given, but the project team will be available to answer questions.

The first phase of the project started in fall 2021 and built a new acceleration lane for drivers turning from Lakeshore Drive to head south on US-95. Earlier this week, crews started installing signs in the area and plan to finish striping as soon as weather allows.

“We need two days of good weather to put down fresh paint, so pay attention to signage in the area to know when your commute will be impacted,” ITD Project Manager Phil Stout said. “Two-way traffic will be maintained while the crews work during during the day.”

Construction for the second phase of the project is anticipated to start in August 2022. This season a U-turn on US-95 will be built as an alternative for drivers wanting to turn left from Lakeshore Drive, and the highway will be repaved from Monarch Road in Sagle to the Long Bridge. Next spring, a signal will be installed at the US-95 and Sagle Road intersection with a detour in place for Sagle Road east of the intersection.

“We know drivers have been dealing with potholes all spring, so we added work to the project to address that concern,” Stout said. “Our operations staff will continue to fill them in as needed, but this should provide long-term relief.”

The median U-turn and repaving will be completed by winter. During the U-turn construction, two-way traffic will be maintained during daytime hours, but during nighttime repaving, the highway will be reduced to one lane.

“Some of these details are subject to change once we have a contractor on board, but we want drivers to be aware of what is coming and know how to use the new U-turn,” Stout said.

The open house will also share an unfunded, potential concept for improvements at Bottle Bay Road, as well a study now underway to provide more details on what US-95 will look like in the future.

Join the project team at the open house or visit the website at itdprojects.org/us95lakeshoredrive to view construction updates and more information.

Next week work will impact Goosehaven Road near St. Maries as crews prepare to start construction of a safety project on State Highway 3.

Starting Monday, April 18, the Idaho Transportation Department will improve Goosehaven Road by adding more material and then leveling the route so it may serve as a detour for construction on SH-3 this summer.

“That week drivers should prepare for delays on Goosehaven Road but not on SH-3,” Project Manager Matt Heinichen said. “We will also apply material to minimize dust created while traffic uses the detour.”

Major construction to widen three miles of SH-3 will begin the following week and take three months to complete. Weather may affect the schedule, so drivers should pay attention to signs in the area and check 511.idaho.gov for exact timing.

“Closing the highway completely will allow us to expedite construction,” Heinichen said. “We have been working with the county to minimize impacts, and this detour is critical to getting the work done.”

Plans call for the highway to be widened by 11 feet to the east, making room for 11-foot travel lanes and 3-foot shoulders. Guardrail will be installed along the east side.

Learn more about the project at itdprojects.org/stmariesdike.