Archives: News

The Idaho Transportation Department has finished upgrading the street lights in Ada County from high pressure sodium bulbs to more efficient LED fixtures, saving an estimated 50% annually in energy costs.

In total, 537 fixtures were upgraded on the state highway system across the county. These lights are often installed on freeway ramps, signalized intersections, or underneath bridges.

“LED technology is superior to the old sodium lights in many ways,” said Justin Price, Traffic Manager for ITD’s Southwest Idaho Office. “They are cheaper to operate and maintain, and they have a longer life span. They also produce a whiter light, which improves visibility to drivers.”

LED offers several economic and ecological advantages over high pressure sodium (HPS). The lifespan of an LED can be up to four times longer than HPS, meaning less physical waste. HPS bulbs cast light in all directions, while LEDs are restricted to 180 degrees, making them more efficient at lighting what we want lit. HPSs need to be regularly monitored as they age, whereas LEDs are near-bulletproof, requiring fewer trips in the maintenance truck.

The cost to replace these fixtures was $450 each. ITD has started to make these upgrades for the street lights in Canyon County as well and plan to have them completed over the next two years.

The new interchange at US-95 and Idaho Highway 53 opened today and is the first of its kind in North Idaho.

“A single-point urban interchange (SPUI) is new to our area, so drivers should take time to learn how to use it and be patient with others as they do the same,” ITD Project Manager Joey Sprague said.

Watch video on how to use the interchange.

Compared to traditional interchanges in the area, traffic will be controlled by one signal.

“Because all the traffic movements are centralized into one signal, a SPUI operates more efficiently than other interchanges in our area,” Sprague said. “With a more traditional interchange like a diamond or clover leaf, you might have to wait at two different signals to get where you need to go, but at a SPUI you’ll only have to get through one.”

Download an image of the new interchange.

Work began in July 2019, and since then, crews also installed a temporary signal at ID-53 and Ramsey Road, widened and realigned ID-53 and replaced the bridge over the railroad. Government Way, signed as Pope Road, was extended north of ID-53 to serve as a frontage road.

The next phase of the overall project is the construction of an overpass at Garwood Road, which will start next spring and will require the closure of its intersection with US-95.

“That closure will last until next fall,” Sprague said. “During and after construction, drivers will need to use the frontage roads and interchanges at ID-53 or Chilco Road to access US-95.”

Changes are funded primarily with an estimated $41 million from the GARVEE program and another $13.9 million in federal aid.

“Once all of these changes are complete, US-95 will be safer and more efficient with new frontage roads, a new interchange, and a greater speed limit of 70 mph north of Boekel Road. With the two signals removed from US-95, the last signal heading north from Coeur d’Alene to Sandpoint will be at Lancaster Road,” Sprague said.

Sign up for email updates at itdprojects.org/us95id53.

Both lanes of Idaho Highway 55 are now back open to traffic, as the Idaho Transportation Department’s Smiths Ferry project pauses for the winter.

This fall crews made steady progress, working to widen shoulders, add guard rail, and straighten ID-55 between Smiths Ferry and the Rainbow Bridge. The project team safely removed 39,500 cubic yards of rock from the canyon through 17 controlled blasts.

Work will resume in mid-March 2021, weather permitting. For more information on the project and to sign up for updates, visit itdprojects.org/ID55smithsferry.