Open House
The online open house is closed. Your questions and comments are very important to the success of the project. If you have any additional comments or questions, please reach out using the contact information below.
Overview
The Idaho Transportation Department is refining plans to improve sections of State Highway 55 between Pear Lane and Farmway Road in Nampa.
This area of Canyon County has grown by 22% in the last decade. The crash rate is 11 times higher than comparable highways in the state, and traffic is projected to double by 2045. Improvements will increase safety and traffic flow, and serve the needs of both urban and rural roadway users.
For more information:
Next Steps
ITD will host an open house in 2026 to present roadway widening improvements for comment and feedback to the public. Property that needs to be purchased between Pear Lane and Farmway Road is currently being identified. More information will become available once design adjustments are complete and the open house is scheduled.
Background
In 2022, ITD completed an environmental analysis and preliminary design plans for SH-55 from Pear Lane to Middleton Road. ITD has since reevaluated the traffic analysis and reassured need for the project, with improvements implemented in a “phased approach• on this corridor.
The Farmway Road to Middleton Road section was found to have the most crashes and highest traffic counts in the corridor. The process to design improvements to this section of SH-55 began in 2021 and the project is currently under construction. Learn more about the Farmway Road to Middleton Road project.
Funding
The SH-55 Pear Lane to Farmway Road final design and right-of-way acquisition are being funded with Transportation Expansion and Congestion Mitigation (TECM) funds as part of Governor Little’s Leading Idaho Program. The program allows ITD to accelerate project timelines to address rapid growth and build critical infrastructure today that would otherwise take many years to fund and build.
SH-55 is a primary transportation and freight corridor through Idaho.
For more information on TECM funding, visit itd.idaho.gov/funding
Project Timeline
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2019-2022
SH-55, Pear Ln to Middleton Rd corridor study
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Fall 2024
Farmway to Middleton construction started
Pear to Farmway design work begins
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March 2026
Public meeting
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Fall 2026
Complete design activities
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Spring 2027
Anticipated start of right-of-way purchasing
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TBD*
Construction
*This project is only funded through design and right-of-way activities. Construction will be prioritized on a statewide basis and will begin once funding is identified.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this project all about?
The SH-55 Pear Lane to Farmway Road Project will widen the road to five lanes (2 lanes in each direction with a center turn lane). These improvements will increase safety and mobility for users of the corridor.
When will construction begin and finish? Is there a schedule for construction?
There is currently no start date for construction. Before construction can begin, ITD will need to secure funding. Final design plans began in 2024, and right-of-way acquisition is anticipated to begin by 2027. Construction is currently unfunded but anticipated to take three years to complete. ITD will have a more comprehensive timeline as the design becomes more refined.
Will the plans for SH-55 address future growth in this area?
Yes. 2055 traffic projections were used to determine the project needs. ITD closely examines future growth when determining design plans. The improvements included in the project are designed to take into account the rapid growth and congestion in the project area.
How will this project affect driveways and other specific access points?
ITD wants to make the highway as safe as possible. Parcels with multiple driveways may be required to consolidate. All driveways onto SH-55 between Pear Lane to Farmway Road are being design for full movements.
How is ITD addressing the connections of SH-55 to the smaller non-signalized local roads?
Local roads will remain unsignalized with stop signs, and motorists will be permitted to go straight, right or left. There will be a continuous center turn lane along with dedicated right turn lanes at intersections where warranted.
Why didn’t ITD include more signals along the corridor at major intersections?
The data collected by ITD showed that signals at major intersections past Farmway are not warranted. As the area around the highway develops and traffic counts grow, this may change
Will ITD need right-of-way for the project?
Yes. ITD has begun the process of identifying needed right of way. ITD engaged affected property owners in February 2026 and hosted an open house in March 2026 to discuss final design plans.
Why did ITD move SH-55 so far south just west of Pride Lane?
To accommodate required drainage for the widened highway, SH-55 must be raised where it crosses the Deer Flat High Line Canal. Raising the road at its current location would have created significant impacts to the historical Huston post office and nearby homes.
By shifting SH-55 slightly to the south near Pride Lane, those impacts are reduced. This approach also allows crews to build the new canal crossing in one phase while keeping traffic on the existing roadway, which helps maintain traffic flow and shortens construction time.
Will transit be added to the corridor?
Bus stops or other transit will not be added as part of this project.
What bike and pedestrian facilities are included in this project?
No dedicated bicycle or pedestrian facilities are being added as a part of this project. However, ITD will widen the shoulders to 8 feet to improve safety for bicyclists and pedestrians.