New railroad overpass on ID-41 opens tomorrow

Railroad overpass for northbound traffic on ID-41 nearly complete

The first of two bridges over the railroad on Idaho Highway 41 north of Hayden Avenue will open tomorrow. Work on the overpass began in June of 2020 and completing this structure is a major milestone in the effort to expand the highway to four lanes between Post Falls and Rathdrum.

With the bridge ready for use, traffic on ID-41 will shift from the existing roadway to the newly paved lanes between Prairie Avenue and Wyoming Avenue.

“Opening this first bridge is critical to moving on to the next phase of the project,” ITD Project Manager Mason Palmer said. “Now we can start building the second bridge and continue upgrading intersections.”

Immediately following the opening of the bridge, the closure of Hayden Avenue east of ID-41 will be lifted, but west of ID-41 the road will close until early August. Lancaster Road east of ID-41 will also close for that same timeframe. Local detours will be posted.

Intersections throughout the corridor will be partially closed during construction to allow crews to add capacity, update signals or install turning restrictions. Drivers are encouraged to sign up for email updates at itdprojects.org/id41corridor.

View specific plans at each intersection.

Paving operations have not yet begun for the southern half of the project, which kicked off earlier this year. Crews are currently in the process of relocating utilities and building the base of the future roadway.

“Generally speaking, we will build a new set of lanes to the east, switch traffic over to those lanes, and then rebuild the existing roadway,” Palmer said. “What drivers have historically traveled on will become two southbound lanes, and the two new lanes will carry northbound traffic.”

Traffic conditions and progress will vary throughout the corridor, but all work is scheduled to be complete in the fall of 2022. Improvements total $51.5 million, with another $5.7 million contributed by the cities of Post Falls and Rathdrum.

Comment period open for the I-86/I-15 system interchange project in Pocatello

POCATELLO – The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) has opened a two week comment period to the public on recent project updates to the I-86/I-15 System Interchange project.

The public can now comment on the system interchange project updates which include but are not limited to: a new separated pedestrian/bicycle pathway east of the interstate; construction detour information; project FAQs and other proposed improvements.

The community can utilize an interactive map showing the project details and proposed improvements before submitting their comments. The comment period is open now through Monday, May 24.

Project construction will begin in 2022 with plans of interchange completion in 2025.

For project information, updates and to comment please visit:

https://itdprojects.org/projects/i-86-i-15-system-interchange/

Overnight closure on I-84 between Eagle Road and I-184 Monday for utility work

Interstate 84 will be closed between Eagle Road and I-184 (The Connector) for three hours overnight Monday, May 10^th to allow Idaho Power crews to work over the roadway.

Idaho Power will be stringing new power lines adjacent to Cloverdale Road. To safely work over I-84, the utility company will install a net over the highway. The installation will require daytime work on the shoulder. Then, from 1 a.m. to 4 a.m. on May 10^th, I-84 will be closed as crews erect the netting.

During the closure, I-84 traffic will be diverted to local roads. Eastbound traffic will exit at Eagle Road (Exit 46), travel along Overland Road, and re-enter the Interstate at Cole/Overland (Exit 50). Westbound I-84 and I-184 traffic will be detoured at Cole/Overland and Franklin Road (Exit 1) respectively. They will travel on Franklin Road and re-enter the Interstate at Eagle Road.

The Ada County Highway District will be actively managing signal timing on Overland and Franklin Roads during the closure to maximize the efficiency of those routes. ITD recommends the traveling public plan trips around the closure time or anticipate significant delays through the closure area.

Idaho Power estimates placing the new lines will take 8-10 days. A second closure of the Interstate will be required when that work is complete to remove the netting.

For questions about Idaho Power’s project, contact Sven Berg, Idaho Power Corporate Communications Specialist, at sberg@idahopower.com or (208) 388-2905.

Public invited to view final design and construction plans next week for US-93, 300 South roadway project in Jerome County

Map view of US-93 expansion project in Jerome County

The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) will host a public meeting for the US-93, 300 South project to share the latest information about plans to expand US-93 to four lanes between 200 South and 400 South in Jerome County. This will be the fourth and final expansion of US-93 in the area and will provide a safer roadway for commercial and non-commercial vehicles.

The meeting will be held in an open house format on Wednesday, May 12 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Idaho Fish and Game, Magic Valley Regional Office located at 324 South 417 East in Jerome. Members of the public are invited to drop in anytime during the open house to view display boards and talk with the project team.

In accordance with COVID-19 guidelines, the number of attendees will be limited to 50 people at one time. ITD personnel will adhere to best practices during the public meeting and requests that individuals who attend follow recommended guidance relating to COVID-19.

An online version of the meeting will also be available for those who cannot attend on May 12. The online meeting will be available from May 13 to 27 on the project website at: itdprojects.org/projects/us-93-300-south-road.

Individuals who are not feeling well are encouraged to participate in the online meeting instead of attending in person.

Comments will be accepted through June 4, 2021.

Attending the public open house is not a requirement for submitting a comment. Comments can also be submitted via:

Email:    Nathan.Jerke@itd.idaho.gov
Online:   itdprojects.org/projects/us-93-300-south-road
Mail:      Idaho Transportation Department
Attn: Nathan Jerke
216 South Date Street
Shoshone, ID 83352

For more information on project specifics, please contact the ITD Project Manager by emailing Nathan.Jerke@itd.idaho.gov or calling 208-886-7809.

Northside Boulevard Interchange at Interstate 84 will fully open on Sunday morning (May 9)

The Northside Boulevard interchange will be fully opened to motorists on Sunday morning, May 9 at 6 a.m. ITD began construction on the interchange in July 2019 and will reopen on schedule.

The Northside Boulevard Interchange has been replaced with a Single-Point Urban Interchange or SPUI design to accommodate more traffic and reduce delays.

The new SPUI interchange includes:

A central traffic signal underneath I-84 that will direct all turning movements from a single point.
New sidewalks and bicycle lanes added to both sides of Northside Boulevard.
Flattened on- and off-ramps to improve visibility for vehicles accessing I-84.
New ADA curb ramps at the intersection of 6th Street and Northside Boulevard.

ITD will open the new lanes of I-84 between Karcher Interchange and Franklin Boulevard on Tuesday morning, May 11. Motorists will have three lanes in each direction and a new auxiliary lane between the ramps.

“ITD would like to thank the community for their patience during the construction of this important project,” said Mark Campbell, ITD Project Manager. “Heads up, there are still final cleanup activities in the area over the next few weeks as construction crews finish the project. We ask motorists to continue to slow down and pay attention in the work zone.”

To request text message updates about other major traffic impacts on I-84 in Canyon County, text 84CORRIDOR to 1-866-ITD-84CC. For details about the I-84 expansion in Canyon County, visit itdprojects.org/84corridor or listen to the monthly Drive Idaho podcast.

Closure Wednesday night on portions of Interstate 84 Exit 168 in Jerome County

Weather permitting, controlled blasting is expected to occur the night of Wednesday, May 5 near Interstate 84 between Twin Falls and Jerome. This is part of the Idaho Transportation Department’s (ITD) interstate rehabilitation project that has been underway since May of last year to provide a smoother and safer roadway.

For the safety of drivers, traffic must be stopped in the surrounding area while blasting occurs within the ITD right of way. Traffic on I-84 will not be impacted, but drivers will not be able to take the eastbound off ramp at Exit 168 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. as it will be closed. A section of South Lincoln Road will also be closed during this time.

Carefully controlled blasting is necessary for the construction of a new stormwater pond in the area.

“This operation will have a brief impact to traffic,” stated ITD Project Manager Brock Dillé. “We are prepared for a closure of three hours but may be able to open the roadways sooner than that.”

After blasting, crews will ensure the roadway is safe and free of all debris before reopening to traffic.

Dillé explains that timing of this work is very important.

“We have to blast during daylight hours, but we are very conscious of the impact it will have on drivers, which is why we are blasting in the evening after peak hours.”

ITD is asking motorists to consider alternate routes while this activity is underway. Electronic message boards and signage will be placed in the area in advance of the event.

Western Construction of Boise is the general contractor on this project that is expected to be complete in July.

Work begins Monday on Idaho Highway 75 in Hailey

Next week, the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) will begin a two-phase project on Idaho Highway 75 (Main Street) in Hailey between Fox Acres Road and Cobblestone Lane.

The first phase will begin Monday, May 3. Crews will update pedestrian ramps and crossings to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. The second phase of the project, which is expected to begin in July, will rehabilitate the roadway.

“At this point in time, the weather is still too variable for us to work on the roadway,” ITD Project Manager Steve Hunter said. “Because of this, we will first address the ADA ramps and then move onto roadway construction later in the summer.”

Only one ramp per intersection will be constructed at a time to lessen impacts to pedestrians. No work is scheduled to occur on the pedestrian ramps or roadway during the July 4 holiday.

“We understand that the City of Hailey is a renowned tourist destination and we will be working closely with our crews to reduce impacts to the community as much as possible,” Hunter said.

ITD will hold a public meeting ahead of the roadway rehabilitation to share with business owners and residents what can be expected during construction, which will last through the summer.

Knife River is the primary contractor on this $3.4 million project.

Star Card – Idaho’s REAL ID federal deadline extended

UPDATE: Star Card deadline is now May 7, 2025

U.S. Department of Homeland Security notice for REAL ID

Originally published 4/28/2021

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced the federal deadline for REAL ID, Idaho’s Star Card enforcement, is extended to May 3, 2023 due to COVID-19. The pandemic has impacted states’ ability to issue REAL ID compliant IDs with many driver’s license agencies operating at limited capacity across the country, according to DHS Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas.

The Idaho DMV continues to urge Idahoans to get their Star Card before 2023. The Star Card, U.S. passport, military ID, or other REAL ID compliant identification, will be required to board a commercial flight and enter a federal facility in May 2023.

Currently more than 490,000 of 1.25 million licensed drivers in Idaho have a Star Card. That number has increased from just 70,000 in 2019.

“We are happy to see the number of Idahoans who have chosen to get a Star Card steadily increase, even during the pandemic, and we want to maintain that momentum,” said Idaho Division of Motor Vehicles Administrator Alberto Gonzalez. “Despite the deadline extension to 2023, please plan ahead and get your Star Card early.”

The Star Card has been available in Idaho since 2018. The transaction requires an in-person visit to a county driver’s license office and additional documents. The Idaho DMV strongly encourages Idahoans use the “Add the Star” tool at itd.idaho.gov/starcard to learn what specific documents are needed, as they can vary depending on each person’s situation. More information, frequently asked questions, and driver’s license office locations can also be found online.

Please note, several other state DMVs have reported a REAL ID phishing scam in which a citizen may receive a text asking for personal information related to the REAL ID. This message is a scam and should not be clicked on. It has not yet appeared in Idaho, but remember the Idaho DMV does not send messages requesting information for the Star Card.

The REAL ID Act was passed by Congress in 2005 as a result of the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation that the government “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver’s licenses.” The Act established minimum security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards, and prohibits federal agencies from accepting licenses and identification cards from states that do not meet these standards, for official purposes.

Reconstruction of Middleton Road Bridge over Interstate 84 complete, open to traffic

The Middleton overpass is nearly complete

The Idaho Transportation Department has completed the reconstruction of the Middleton Road Bridge over Interstate 84 ahead of schedule and will open it to the public tonight. ITD will cover the opening at 8 p.m. live on Facebook.

The reconstruction was necessary to make room for additional travel lanes for I-84. ITD has begun the first phase of constructing a third travel lane in each direction. The new Middleton Road Bridge is long enough that a future fourth lane can be constructed without conflict.

The bridge was rebuilt ahead of schedule by contractor Concrete Placing Company. The cost of construction was $5.5 million.

The new bridge features a travel lane in each direction, wider shoulders, and a sidewalk on the north side. The design allows for future expansion of Middleton Road without the need to rebuild the entire structure. The project also constructed a signal at the intersection of Middleton Road and Cherry Lane, north of I-84.

“This project went really well and this new bridge is a great investment for transportation in the area,” said ITD Project Manager Michael Lucas. “We had a lot of coordination with some local road projects and the work on the Interstate. The crews worked through Covid-19 complications, adverse weather, and a lot of night work to get the job done. I appreciate the public’s patience during construction.”

The Department will quickly move to the second bridge over I-84 restricting the widening, Ustick Road. That bridge lies a little over a mile to the west of the Middleton Road Bridge. The Ustick Road bridge reconstruction project requires two separate bridge structures to be rebuilt, one over I-84 and the other crossing the Notus Canal. ITD will release a timeline for that project at a later date. Current information on the Ustick Road Overpass project can be found online at ITDprojects.org/UstickRoadOverpass/.

Twelve miles of US-95 south of Culdesac to be repaved this summer

Twelve miles of US-95 south of Culdesac will be repaved this summer, with impacts to traffic starting Monday, May 3. Motorists should plan up to 15 minutes of extra time to navigate through the work zone.

Until work is complete this October, drivers should expect one lane to be closed during working hours. The highway will open to two lanes at night and on the weekends when crews are not working.

Work will be focused between mileposts 267 – 271 south of Craigmont, portions of US-95 between mileposts 273 – 283 north of Craigmont and at approximately milepost 289 in the canyon. Crews will begin with the section in the canyon and progress south past Craigmont.

These repairs cost $7.3 million and will be completed by Valley Paving & Asphalt of Cottonwood.

Over the last two years, the Idaho Transportation Department has improved safety in the area by widening the highway to accommodate 2.5 miles of passing lane for southbound drivers. While no expansion work will take place this year, three more phases of work to extend the passing lane another 6.5 miles are programmed for 2023, 2024 and 2026. Paving this year will address the lanes that were not improved with previous projects.