The Idaho Transportation Department is preparing for lane closures on the Perrine Bridge beginning Sunday which are expected to remain in place until Wednesday.
“Depending on the weather, southbound traffic will be impacted first, starting Sunday morning and extending into Tuesday,” Project Manager Bruce Christensen said. “Starting Monday or Tuesday, northbound traffic will be impacted through Wednesday.”
Drivers should expect delays plan extra time to get through the construction area.
Only one lane in one direction will be closed at a time, except on Sunday, when both southbound and northbound passing lanes will be closed. Crews will repair expansion joints that allow the bridge to expand and contract with the weather.
This work is a part of ongoing maintenance to extend the life of the Perrine Bridge. Repairs are expected to continue into the spring.
Check Idaho 511 for traffic updates and visit the website to learn more about the project.
ITD Chief Innovation Experience Officer and Human Resource Administrator Brenda Williams was recently recognized by AASHTO for completing her two-year term as the chair for the HR Committee. She previously served as the vice-chair for four years.
The purpose of the national HR Committee is to research, recommend, and share best practices and policy initiatives to enable the human resource functions of state transportation agencies to continuously become stronger, innovative, and more efficient.
During her time on the committee, Williams said there were a few highlights, such as creating an HR metrics report to help guide nationwide policies, processes, and best practices. Additionally, they held at least two webinars annually and increased the number of states actively participating in the committee.
“ITD is doing so many great things focused on the employees,” Williams said. “I was proud to share our best practices with other states.”
Williams will continue to serve on the AASHTO Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.
“It has been an honor to work with such amazing HR professionals around the country who are passionate about making the workplace better,” Williams added.
The Idaho Transportation Department will host an open house on Jan. 30 about plans to improve multiple sections of State Highway 75 between Bellevue and the Broadway Run intersection south of Ketchum.
The open house will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Commons Room of the Community Campus Building at 1050 Fox Acres Road in Hailey. An online meeting will be available between Jan. 31 and Feb. 14 at itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/sh75bellevue.
Plans include widening SH-75 and improving specific intersections between McKercher Boulevard and Timber Way, and between Birch Street and Fox Acres Road. Plans also include improvements to the Gannett Road intersection and transit improvements at the Broadway Run intersection.
“We received excellent community feedback on preliminary design plans in November 2022,” Project Manager Mark Campbell said. “This meeting is an opportunity to share specific updates based on community input, detailed engineering and environmental work.”
Improvements between Bellevue and Broadway Run were approved in 2008 as a part of an environmental impact statement for SH-75 from Timmerman to Ketchum. ITD is re-evaluating improvements based on updated traffic projections, safety data and engineering.
Final design plans are expected to be completed later this year. ITD’s goal is to create shovel-ready projects that can be implemented when funding is identified.
Details about the project are available at itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/sh75bellevue.
Persons needing an interpreter or special accommodations are urged to contact 208-334-8884 or TTY/TDD users Dial 711 to use the Idaho Relay System.
Se les recomienda a las personas que necesiten un intérprete o arreglos especiales que llamen al 208-334-8496. Usuarios de TTY/TDD: Marque 711 o (800) 377-3529 para usar el sistema de Relay de Idaho.
Winter weather has brought snowy driving conditions to much of Idaho. Unfortunately, the rise in snowy road conditions has also led to a sharp rise in snowplow strikes. Nine Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) plows have been hit so far this winter season. Five strikes happened over the last seven days.
Two of the most recent strikes happened this Wednesday in the Magic Valley, one on I-84 north of Twin Falls, and one on I-84 west of Wendell. Both involved a semi truck rear-ending a plow. The vehicles will be out of service for up to two weeks while they undergo repairs.
“It’s a major impact on maintenance sheds when equipment is taken out of service. We are limited on snowplows,” Jerome Foreman Brian Davidson said. “It makes it more difficult to keep roads clear.”
Another recent strike happened on Tuesday in Nampa. The plow was heading eastbound on I-84 near Karcher Road. A pickup pulling a trailer merged onto the interstate and lost control. The trailer swung out and hit the ITD vehicle’s wing plow. There was no lasting damage to the snowplow.
ITD wants to remind drivers how to be safe around snowplows.
- Do not pass a plow on the right. Plows have a 10-foot extendable wing plow on the right side that may be difficult to see in snowy conditions.
- Provide ample space for plows to work and steer clear of their blind spots. This also means increasing your following distance behind the plow.
- Practice patience and stay behind the plow for the safest road conditions.
- Plows often operate in pairs to clear multiple lanes; never position yourself between tandem plows.
- In case of a crash or if you need to stop on the side of the road, stay inside your vehicle for both your safety and that of our plow operators.
Last winter, there were 17 plow strikes, a number ITD does not want to repeat. Please be careful driving and mindful of our plows. Check 511.idaho.gov or the Idaho 511 App for road conditions before traveling. For more winter driving tips, visit itd.idaho.gov/travel.
*For real-time updates and photos of plow strikes, visit ITD’s Facebook or X pages.
BOISE – Jim Kempton, who has served the eight south-central Idaho counties as the District 4 representative on the Idaho Transportation Board since March 2012, is set to retire at the end of the month. At nearly 12 years of service, Kempton is the longest-serving board member. He succeeded Gary Blick as the District 4 representative.
A native of Albion, Kempton is a graduate of the University of Idaho. Kempton was a decorated Air Force fighter pilot who served two tours of duty in Vietnam. Kempton served five terms in the Idaho House of Representatives, including as the chairman of the House Transportation and Defense Committee.
Kempton also represented Idaho for seven years on the Northwest Power and Conservation Council, was a former member of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission – including two years as its president — and served as assistant professor of physics at the Air Force Academy. He also was liaison between the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon.
He chaired the Forum on Transportation Investment during his time on the board, and was a key member of former Governor Otter’s Task Force on Transportation Investment.
At Kempton’s appointment in February 2012, Governor Otter said, “You’re just not going to get any smarter, better informed or committed to public service than Jim Kempton.” During his 11 years on the transportation board, Kempton proved that to be true time after time.
“Jim’s commitment to Idaho and its citizens is unrivaled,” said Idaho Transportation Board Chairman Bill Moad. “It’s evident his time in the Idaho Legislature and with the Public Utilities Commission has been invaluable as he helped guide us on critical issues addressing growth and investment in transportation. I personally will miss the wit and wisdom that was apparent in the support he gave me and the other board members.”
Julie DeLorenzo, who started on the board just a month after Kempton, becomes the longest-tenured member when Kempton steps down.
The Idaho Transportation Department will close State Highway 21 from Grandjean to Banner Summit this afternoon due to high avalanche risk.
A weather system bringing rain and snow is likely to trigger avalanches in this section of highway. The anticipated closure will begin at 4 p.m. today. However, actual weather impacts may require an earlier closure.
Motorists needing to use the roadway are advised to make the trip immediately or plan to use alternate routes. The alternate route between the Treasure Valley and Stanley area is to travel east on Interstate 84, exit in Mountain Home at Exit 95 to U.S. Highway 20 and then head north on State Highway 75.
The ITD avalanche crew monitors the snowpack along this section of highway in order to forecast the risk of avalanches large enough to reach the roadway. This practice allows the department to keep the highway open during the winter months with a reasonable confidence of safety for the traveling public.
There are around 70 avalanche paths in this 11-mile stretch of SH-21. Avalanches can be triggered without warning. For this reason, there is no parking or stopping within this section of road during the winter.
The highway will reopen when the snowpack has stabilized and the risk of active avalanches is reduced. Updates on closures and openings will be posted on 511.idaho.gov.
The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) will host an open house next Wednesday to share construction plans to replace the signal and culvert on State Highway 27 and G Canal.
The meeting will be held between 5 – 7 p.m. on Jan. 24, at Mountain View Elementary at 333 W. 27th Street in Burley. This meeting follows an open house format, and individuals can stop by at their convenience to visit with ITD staff and learn more about the project.
ITD also offers an online option for individuals unable to attend in person. Please visit itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/sh27and27th between Jan. 24 – Feb. 7 to view project material and comment. Construction is planned to start in mid-October. If individuals have questions or comments about the project and are unable to attend the in-person or online meeting, contact Project Manager Brock Dille at (208) 544-7906 or brock.dille@itd.idaho.gov.
At least 277* people were killed in traffic crashes in Idaho last year, making it the deadliest year on Idaho roads in 20 years. You have to look all the way back to 2003, when 293 were killed, to find a deadlier year.
Preliminary data from the Idaho Office of Highway Safety (OHS) shows a significant rise in fatalities across all crash categories in 2023. One-hundred ninety-five* people in vehicles were killed, of those fatalities, 105* were not wearing a seat belt. Forty people riding motorcycles, 31* people on foot, and 7* people on bicycles were killed in 2023. Four* deaths involved people riding ATVs, UTVs, or other off-road vehicles on public roads.
“Idahoans want to do right by their communities by driving safe, so this increase in fatalities should be alarming to all of us. The loss of Each person last year is a tragedy with broad impact,” said Idaho Transportation Department Director Scott Stokes. “So, in Idaho let us recommit ourselves to the principles of engaged driving to help save lives in the future. That means putting the distractions away, buckling up, and driving cautiously and respectfully.”
Grant funding is available through OHS for programs that aim to change unsafe behaviors like distracted and impaired driving to help reduce death and serious injury on Idaho roads. The application period for FY2025 grants closes on January 31, 2024. To apply, complete the grant application. OHS also offers mini-grants throughout the year for traffic safety community education and outreach, contact them at 208-334-8112 or email OHSGrants@itd.idaho.gov. Resources for community outreach efforts can be found at Shift-Idaho.org.
Top 10 contributing circumstances to traffic fatalities in 2023 (in no particular order):
- Fail to maintain lane
- Speeding
- Alcohol/Drug impairment
- Fail to yield
- Inattention
- Drove left of centerline
- Fail to obey a stop sign or signal
- Overcorrecting
- Distracted
- Improper overtaking
Traffic fatalities by transportation district and county in 2023:
District 1
- Boundary – 1
- Bonner – 5
- Kootenai – 21
- Benewah – 4
- Shoshone – 1
District 2
- Latah – 2
- Nez Perce – 9
- Idaho – 9
- Clearwater – 4
- Lewis – 0
District 3
- Ada – 31
- Canyon – 32
- Boise – 8
- Elmore – 11
- Owyhee – 2
- Payette – 8
- Gem – 5
- Washington – 2
- Valley – 3
- Adams – 1
District 4
- Jerome – 18
- Twin Falls – 13
- Cassia -8
- Minidoka – 4
- Blaine -4
- Gooding – 3
- Lincoln -2
- Camas – 0
District 5
- Bingham – 9
- Bannock – 8
- Bear Lake – 3
- Franklin – 1
- Oneida – 0
- Power -1
- Caribou -2
District 6
- Bonneville – 17
- Butte – 2
- Fremont – 4
- Jefferson – 8
- Lemhi – 3
- Madison – 2
- Teton – 5
- Custer- 1
- Clark – 0
| Year |
2023 |
2022 |
| Total Fatalities |
277* |
215 |
| Motorcyclists |
40* |
29 |
| Pedestrians |
31* |
16 |
| Bicyclists |
7* |
4 |
*All 2023 data is preliminary and subject to change
CLARKIA — As of this morning the Idaho Transportation Department has closed the northbound lane of the bridge over the St. Maries River on State Highway 3 near milepost 57. A temporary traffic signal has been placed to allow alternating traffic over the bridge in the southbound lane, and load limit and width restrictions have been put in place for commercial vehicles.
Engineers recently completed a review of the structural integrity of this bridge and found the piers under the northbound lane showing an advanced rate of deterioration from seasonal fluctuations in water levels.
Crews are working on re-fortification of the piers, similar to work performed beneath the southbound lanes of this bridge in 2020, to renew the integrity of the structure and restore both lanes of traffic for normal use.
This bridge is currently scheduled for full replacement in 2027, but may be advanced to earlier years depending on the rate of deterioration.
The ability for crews to complete work will largely depend on weather and temperature conditions over the next few weeks.
Drivers are encouraged to check Idaho 511 for any delays caused by this closure and updated load restrictions for commercial vehicles.
Blizzard conditions across much of the state has caused the Idaho Transportation Department to close several routes.
Current closures include:
Southwest Idaho:
- State Highway 21 from Grandjean Junction to Banner Summit
- State Highway 21 from Idaho City to Lowman
South-Central Idaho:
- U.S. Highway 93 from Jerome to Shoshone
- U.S. Highway 20 from Fairfield to Mountain Home
- U.S. Highway 30 from Hansen to Murtaugh
- State Highway 75 from Shoshone to Timmerman
- State Highway 46 from Gooding to Fairfield
Southeast Idaho:
- State Highway 34 from Conda to Wyoming
- State Highway 36 from SH-34 to Ovid
East Idaho:
- State Highway 47 from Ashton to Bear Gulch
- State Highway 32 from Tetonia to Ashton
- State Highway 33 from Newdale to Tetonia. Note that Teton Pass in Wyoming is also closed.
- U.S. Highway 26 from Ririe to Swan Valley
- State Highway 31 from Swan Valley to Victor
Plows will be out in full force today and until the winter weather subsides. The department asks that those who do not need to travel stay home or time their trips around weather conditions.
To share the road safely with plows, travelers are reminded to:
- Never pass a plow on the right.
- Give plows room to work by maintaining at least a three-second following distance.
- If multiple plows are working in tandem, do not attempt to move between them.
- Stay out of the blind spots.
- Drive for conditions.
- Allow extra time to travel.
More closures could be possible as the system moves through the state. Road conditions are updated 24/7 at 511.idaho.gov. Drivers are reminded to know before they go and visit the website or check the 511 app before traveling.
