The Idaho Transportation Department invites community members to give input on concept design options to improve Idaho 75 from Elkhorn Road to River Street via an online discussion at itdprojects.org/idaho-75-elkhorn-road. The online discussion will be open from June 10 to June 24.
The online discussion includes short video presentations that will guide participants through each design option being considered through the project limits. Participants will have the opportunity to provide input and see comments from other community members.
The Idaho Transportation Department will also be hosting an in-person meeting at the Limelight Hotel in Ketchum on June 17 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The meeting will be in open house format. Individuals are invited to stop by at any time during the meeting and visit with project team members who will be on hand to discuss design options and answer questions.
Growth and development in recent years have resulted in increased congestion on Idaho 75. This project aims to address those issues, and will result in design plans for widening the highway between Elkhorn Road and River Street, rebuilding the Trail Creek Bridge and improving drainage and other infrastructure. This is the second outreach opportunity for community members to discuss this project.
“This portion of Idaho 75 is a vital link to the overall corridor and to the Wood River community,” ITD Project Manager Nathan Jerke stated. “We are following up on the comments received last year about the proposed improvements in an effort to meet community expectations and needs of the Idaho highway system.”
The in-person meeting will have two identical rooms set up to maximize participation. A limited number of people will be allowed in a room at once. Information covered at the in-person meeting will be identical to information presented in the online meeting.
Comments may be submitted via the website or by calling (208) 886-7809, emailing nathan.jerke@itd.idaho.gov or sending mail to the Idaho Transportation Department (216 S Date St., Shoshone, ID 83352) at the attention of Nathan Jerke.
Reconstruction of Idaho Highway 19 (Idaho Avenue) through downtown Homedale will begin the week of June 14.
ID-19 in Homedale
The pavement rehabilitation includes milling the old road surface, replacing it with new pavement, and upgrading ADA (Americans with Disabilities) facilities, including crosswalks and pedestrian crossings.
Construction will occur on ID-19 between approximately N. 4th Street East and Railroad Ave. It is scheduled to be complete in late summer.
During construction, expect the following:
Work will occur between the hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. five days a week.
Business access will be maintained.
Drivers should anticipate a temporary gravel road surface during construction activities.
Two lanes of traffic will be open during construction, though some detours or flagging are possible.
Sidewalk access and pedestrian detours will be signed.
Some work will be noisy.
Drivers are encouraged to slow down and pay attention to crews working in the area.
For questions or to sign up for construction updates, please call 208.387.7072, or visit the project website at ITDprojects.org/ID19HomedaleRebuild
On Wednesday,June 16, the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) will host a public meeting for the Idaho Highway 75 Hailey Main Street Rehabilitation project. This is part of a larger project that began in May with updates to pedestrian ramps along Main Street (ID-75).
The open house will provide an opportunity for individuals to learn more about the second phase of the project, which begins in mid-July, and will involve work on the roadway.
The meeting will be held in open house format and members of the project team will be available to answer questions about upcoming construction and impacts. Individuals are invited to stop by anytime during the open house to view display boards and talk with the project team.
Date: June 16, 2021
Time: 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Location: Hailey City Hall, 115 Main St. South, Hailey, ID
An online version of the meeting will be available for those unable to attend in-person. It will be accessible on June 17 via the project website: itdprojects.org/projects/id-75-hailey-main-street
For questions or comments before or after the public meeting, please call 208.608.6635 to speak with a member of the project team.
The Idaho Transportation Department is hosting a virtual public hearing to collect comments on a proposal to reclassify a portion of US-93 in Custer and Butte counties as legal for commercial loads weighing up to 129,000 pounds.
In the application submitted to ITD, Amalgamated Sugar Company requested reclassification of the following route in order to transport lime rock from the US Calcium mine near Darlington to their plants in Twin Falls and Paul:
– US-93 from the Idaho Highway 75 junction near Challis to the US-20 junction in Arco (MP 160.38 to 82.60)
The public hearing begins today and continues until June 23.
The hearing provides an opportunity for citizens to learn about 129,000 pound loads. Individuals are also able to review the evaluation and comment on the current route application.
Individuals may also contact Scott Luekenga directly with questions or comments regarding this application, 129k routes, or the approval process by calling 208-334-8057.
The Department is required to conduct an analysis and public hearing on all requests to operate 129,000 lbs. on the state highway system before the Idaho Transportation Board makes a final decision.
The Idaho Transportation Department’s Public Transportation Advisory Council (PTAC) will have its second meeting of 2021 on Tuesday, June 15. The meeting will be held online via Webex from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is open to the public.
PTAC was created in Idaho code 40-514 to advise ITD on issues and policies regarding public transportation in Idaho. The council is made up of six members representing each of the ITD districts, and participates in planning activities, identifying transportation needs, and promoting coordinated transportation systems.
Meeting topics encompass ITD’s mission of Your Safety, Your Mobility, Your Economic Opportunity, as it relates to public transportation and the funding programs available to transit providers and stakeholders across Idaho.
A copy of PTAC meeting agendas, minutes, and scheduled dates are located on the ITD Public Transportation website, itd.idaho.gov/pt, under the “Advisory” tab.
Those interested in attending the June meeting may call in using the information listed below.
For more information, contact the ITD Public Transportation Office at (208) 334-8533.
Repairs that began in May to six miles of Idaho Highway 13 east of Grangeville will pause due to a cement shortage.
“The supplier for this project has informed us that they are facing a shortage of cement,” Resident Engineer Joe Schacher said. “Unfortunately, it may take up to a month for us to receive what we ordered and get back to work on this project.”
Repairs call for the asphalt surface of the highway to be milled, mixed with cement and then reapplied to the highway to form a stronger base. Crews would then finish the project by adding another layer of pavement. This process is known as cement recycled asphalt base stabilization, and it cannot be done properly without the cement.
“As of now, we have done everything we can do with the materials we have,” Schacher said.
To date, crews have replaced approximately 50 drains and milled the surface of the highway.
All lanes of ID-13 will remain open until work can resume, and drivers will travel primarily on a milled and gravel surface at a reduced speed of 30 mph. The contractor and ITD will continue to monitor the work zone to maintain conditions.
At this time, this is the only ITD project thought to be impacted by the shortage. Depending on the length of the delay, construction could be completed by mid-August.
Until it can be finished, ITD urges drivers to take extreme care and slow down while traversing this section of highway.
The Idaho Transportation Department’s Division of Motor Vehicles is adding another convenient option to its online DMV services. Idahoans who have recently purchased a vehicle from a licensed Idaho dealership may now qualify to skip the trip to a county DMV office and instead register their new or used car from a smartphone, tablet, or computer.
The transaction previously had to be completed in person, but is now available online at dmv.idaho.gov. It’s one of more than 15 DMV transactions ITD offers to customers online.
“We are excited to provide this online 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays,” said DMV Administrator Alberto Gonzalez. “This gives you another choice to skip the line at the DMV to get your driver’s license, vehicle registration or license plates. Skip the trip, save time, and go online.”
Customers will need the pink copy of the ITD 0502 form from the dealer to enter their vehicle’s information. A tutorial video is linked below. At this time the service is not available for private party sales, and customers cannot transfer a current registration from one vehicle to their new vehicle online.
ITD processes close to 100,000 DMV transactions online every month including address changes, driver’s license and vehicle registration renewals, personalized plate orders, release of liability forms and more. A full list can be found at dmv.idaho.gov.
“Idahoans’ time is valuable and with the state’s quickly increasing population we know this now more than ever. Giving more people the ability to finish their DMV business online means better customer service for all,” Gonzalez said.
ITD’s DMV Customer Contact Center can be reached at 208.334.8000 if customers have questions or need assistance with online services.
Due to unexpected weather impacts, all ramps at Interstate 84 Exit 201 and Idaho Highway 25 underneath the interstate will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday (June 1 – 2) to allow for crews to complete work on the roadway.
“We had planned for this phase of construction to be finished by the end of May, but rain in the region delayed our original timeline,” ITD Project Manager Sam Purser said.
The roadway will remain open through Memorial Day weekend, but drivers on I-84 will need to use Exits 194 or 208 during the closure next week. County roads will not be affected.
This is part of a larger project to resurface eight miles of ID-25 from the I-84 interchange to Paul in order to provide a better driving surface for motorists and help extend the life of the roadway.
“We appreciate the patience of drivers as we work to complete construction,” Purser stated. “Even with this minor setback, we still anticipate the project to be complete by late summer.”
Construction is expected to begin Tuesday (June 1) on a pavement restoration project near Shoshone. Throughout the summer, crews will rehabilitate the base and resurface the roadway to provide a smoother and safer driving experience for motorists.
“We will begin work on the east side of Shoshone and then continue toward Marley for approximately 12 miles,” ITD Project Manager Tom Logan stated. “This project will use a combination of new and existing roadway materials to stabilize and extend the life of the highway.”
The E 20 North intersection will also be reconstructed as part of this project to improve safety and curves will be upgraded and realigned to meet current standards where necessary.
While crews are on site, the roadway will be reduced to a single lane – Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. with the possibility of some work occurring on Saturdays. Flaggers and pilot cars will be present to direct traffic through the work zone. Motorists are advised to slow down and watch for workers and heavy equipment in the area.
Knife River Corporation is the primary contractor on this $7 million project that is expected to be complete in September.
This Memorial Day weekend, the Idaho Transportation Department’s Office of Highway Safety (OHS) reminds drivers to take caution during the “100 Deadliest Days” on Idaho roads.
The unofficial start to summer begins the dangerous 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day when there is an increase in fatal crashes. Last year, 88 people killed in vehicle crashes in Idaho lost their lives during this time frame.
“These warmer months are dangerous because we typically see more drivers on the road, with teens out of school and summer road trips underway,” said OHS Manager John Tomlinson. “We also expect busier roads as COVID restrictions lift and Idahoans feel more confident and eager to get back on the road and travel.”
But it’s not the time to relax behind the wheel. Distracted driving, impaired driving, and aggressive driving also have large impacts on crashes in the summer.
“Whether you are on vacation or just driving your regular commute, it’s always important to make safe decisions while driving. Stay focused and drive engaged, plan for a sober ride, and make sure you buckle up,” Tomlinson said.
Memorial Day weekend also coincides with the national Click it or Ticket seat belt campaign. Law enforcement officers across Idaho are partnering with OHS to participate, issuing citations to those not wearing their seat belt.
“Buckling up is the easiest thing you can do to protect yourself during a crash. It increases your odds of surviving by 50 percent,” Tomlinson said. “We want everyone to get to their destination safely this summer. Take care of yourself and the people you care about by wearing your seat belt and driving well every trip.”
OHS will continue to team up with law enforcement agencies throughout the 100 Deadliest Days to also target impaired drivers and aggressive drivers.
