Overview
The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) has started construction on State Highway 55 (SH-55) between Farmway Road and Middleton Road in Canyon County. This project will improve safety and capacity along SH-55, and address the current and future traffic needs along the corridor.
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November 2025 Bimonthly Update
It’s time for our Bimonthly Video Update! In this update, ITD Project Manager Justin Wolf and Public Information Officer Jill Youmans provide the latest updates on the Farmway to Middleton Project, including what to expect in the coming months.
What to Expect
Anticipated traffic impacts during construction include:
- One lane open in each direction during the day.
- Shifting traffic patterns at intersections.
- Overnight lane restrictions and flaggers directing traffic at intersections between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.
- Speed limit reduced to 35 mph on gravel surfaces.
Traffic control is subject to change depending on project needs, and this may affect how the project impacts traffic.
Project Overview
Improvements to the SH-55 include:
- Widen SH-55 to four lanes with dedicated left and right turn lanes at major intersections, including wider shoulders.
- Install a raised median from 10th Avenue to Middleton Road with right-in-right-out-left-in access at mid-mile intersections.
- Add a separated 10 ft bicycle and pedestrian pathway on the north and south sides of SH-55, and a pedestrian undercrossing east of 10th Avenue near Vallivue Middle School.
- Upgrade signal equipment at major intersections.
- Build soundwalls at Crestwood Estates, Fieldcrest Village and Lakeview Apartments.
- Pave a frontage road west of 10th Avenue on the north side of the highway.
Design Map
Jurisdiction Map
Background
In early 2022, ITD completed an environmental analysis and preliminary design plan for the SH-55 from Pear Lane to Middleton Road study. The study highlighted the need for a “phases approach” to improvements along the corridor. SH-55 from Farmway Road to Middleton Road has the highest number of crashes and highest traffic volume in the entire corridor. ITD has determined that it was the priority for improvements and determined that it would be Phase 1.
Phase 2 has been identified; it will focus on improving the highway from Pear Lane to Farmway Road.
A Phased Approach
The Pear Lane to Middleton Road Study also highlighted the need for a “phased approach” to improvements on the SH-55 corridor west of Nampa. This approach involves prioritizing projects based on the area with the most urgent need as funding is available.
With the Governor’s Leading Idaho initiative, funding was identified for Phase One, the Farmway Road to Middleton Road section, which has the most crashes and highest traffic counts along the corridor. This section has finalized design plans and construction will begin in November 2024. The remainder of the corridor, Pear Lane to Farmway Road, has partial funding that will be used to advance the design plans and begin acquiring right of way. Construction has not been funded for this phase.
Funding
The construction of this project is funded through Transportation Expansion and Congestion Mitigation (TECM) funds as part of the Governor’s Leading Idaho initiative. The Leading Idaho Program enables ITD to accelerate project timelines to address rapid growth and build critical infrastructure that would otherwise take many years to fund and complete.
For more information on TECM funding, visit itd.idaho.gov/funding.
Community Involvement
ITD has conducted extensive outreach over the past decade to engage the public in identifying improvements for SH-55 in Canyon County.
Outreach efforts included:
- Interviews with stakeholders, including property owners, in 2008, 2013, 2019, and 2020.
- Community working groups with key stakeholders.
- An online meeting to present preliminary design options and gather feedback.
- In-person and online public meetings in 2022 and 2023 to present final design plans.
These meetings provided an opportunity for ITD to answer questions, gather feedback, and build relationships with those impacted by the SH-55 Farmway to Middleton Road project.
Project Timeline
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2019-2022
SH-55 Pear Lane to Middleton Road Corridor study phase completed.
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2022 Summer
Preliminary design plans complete. ITD hosts open house to collect public input on these plans.
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2023
Right of way acquisition begins. Public open house to share revised design plans.
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2024
Finish right of way purchasing. Construction anticipated to begin.
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2027
Anticipated end of construction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Left-hand turns cause the most common and serious crashes on SH-55, especially during peak traffic hours. A median will substantially reduce the number of left-hand turn collisions by restricting them to major intersections.
Yes. ITD used track projections through 2045 to determine the project needs. ITD closely examines future growth when determining design plans. The improvements included in the project are designed to address the rapid growth and congestion in the project area.
Construction is anticipated to finish in 2027.
Signalized lights will be replaced to fit widened intersection confgurations and timing plans optimized to increase traffic flow at the following SH-55 intersections:
- 10th Avenue
- Indiana Avenue
- Lake Avenue
- Midway Road
- Middleton Road
ITD will use a variety of media including postcards, social media, radio ads, a project website and bi-monthly update videos to communicate with the public. The public can also sign up to receive updates by email or text.
ITD is using a phased approach to address improvements to SH-55 based on the most urgent needs and available funding. This reduces the corridor’s initial capital investment and allows ITD to proceed with the most needed improvements sooner. ITD is moving forward with designing improvements for Pear Lane to Farmway Road and identifying property that needs to be purchased.