POCATELLO – Beginning tonight and continuing through Wednesday morning, nighttime closures will be in place for a section of Interstate 15 and Interstate 86 at the System Interchange allowing crews to safely place girders for one of the new bridges.
The I-86 eastbound to I-15 northbound ramp will be closed from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday and Tuesday nights. Drivers looking to head north on I-15 from I-86 will be detoured through the Pocatello Creek Interchange.
Ongoing construction at the System Interchange will improve safety and mobility while replacing bridges built in the 1960s. Work is expected to be complete in 2025.
Motorists should exercise caution while travelling through the construction zone. Those wishing to receive email updates about the System Interchange project can sign up at https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/g9MMkN9.
Drivers can also use the 511 app for the latest traffic conditions on all state roadways.
The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) invites the public to an open house on Tuesday to comment on proposed improvements to make U.S. Highway 30 safer and address growing traffic in Pocatello.
Improvements are planned for US-30 between the intersections of Yellowstone Avenue and Oak Street and the Gould Street overpass and Garrett Way.
The open house will be from 5-7 p.m. at the Pocatello Streets Department Office at 2405 Garrett Way.
In 2018, ITD completed a study to analyze safety issues, traffic, geometrics, and community needs. Extensive traffic analyses, stakeholder meetings, and steering committee meetings were conducted as part of the study. The results of the study identified significant corridor improvements. In 2023, design began on the improvements, which address:
Intersection operation and safety at Yellowstone Ave, McKinley Ave, and Garrett Way.
An additional turn lane from Gould Street onto Garrett Way to improve signal operations and mobility through the corridor.
Accesses safety
Corridor-wide pedestrian facilities
Stormwater collection
Corridor-wide landscaping
Construction is scheduled for 2027.
“This is an important project for the traveling public in Pocatello,” Project Manager Kevin Sonico said. “These improvements will address the growth in the area and improve safety by addressing lane utilization issues and capacity issues in the corridor. People can stop by any time on Tuesday to learn more about the project and ask questions.”
Beginning Saturday evening drivers should expect various nighttime detours through next week at the System Interchange in Pocatello as crew demolish old bridges on southbound Interstate 15.
Two detours are scheduled for two nights each.
Eastbound travelers on Interstate 86 trying to head north on Interstate 15 will be detoured to the Pocatello Creek Interchange the following nights:
Saturday, Dec. 16, from 9 p.m. to 7:30 a.m.
Sunday, Dec. 17, from 7:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m.
Northbound travelers on I-15 trying to head westbound on I-86 will be detoured to the Northgate Interchange the following nights:
Tuesday, Dec. 19, from 7:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 20, from 7:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m.
During these detours it is important that drivers follow posted speed limits. As work will continue through the winter drivers need to be particularly cautious around snowplows by giving them extra room in the work zone.
Ongoing construction at the System Interchange will improve safety and mobility while replacing bridges built in the 1960s. Work is expected to be complete in 2025. Those wishing to learn more about the project can visit the website: https://itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/i-86i-15-system-interchange.
A new three-lane Interstate 86 bridge at Chubbuck is now open as construction crews head into Thanksgiving week. The new bridge over the Union Pacific Railroad adds capacity, improves traffic flow, and is designed to last 80 years.
While the bridge is complete and open, work continues nearby with the installation of a new sound wall. In addition, paneling will be installed on the bridge to protect the railroad tracks from any debris falling off the bridge.
Crews will continue to work on the I-86/I-15 System Interchange through the winter months. The next major milestone is opening the new I-15 mainline roadway slated for mid-December. Following that contractors will begin demolition of the old I-15 bridges.
This week crews will work until noon Wednesday and return to the construction site on Monday. Still, it is important that drivers be safe while travelling through the System Interchange, particularly with increased holiday traffic.
“Please pay attention to construction signs, be courteous, follow posted speed limits, and drive safe so everyone can go home safely, including workers on the project,” Engineering Manager Aaron Baird said.
The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) will hold an open house on Thursday, Nov. 2 from 4 to 7 p.m. to present preliminary plans for improvements along U.S. Highway 91 (Yellowstone Highway) between Park Lawn Drive and Siphon Road.
“This is an important project for the Chubbuck area,” Project Manager Kevin Sonico said. “These improvements will address the traffic growth in the area and make it safer for both drivers and pedestrians. We encourage everyone to stop by Chubbuck City Hall any time from 4 to7 p.m. on Thursday to learn more about the project. We’ll be ready to answer questions and collect comments.”
Plans include widening US-91 from three lanes to five lanes from Park Lawn Drive to Siphon Road. The project will also install a new signal and pedestrian facilities at the Siphon Road intersection. Lighting, curb, gutter, sidewalks and a shared-use path along the east side of US-91 will be constructed. In addition, the Chester Drain will be piped.
For those who cannot attend the public meeting on November 2, ITD will post meeting displays the following day on the project website itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/park-lawn-and-siphon for review through Nov. 16. If you have questions about the project, or would like to submit feedback, you can contact the project’s public involvement manager, Andrea Gumm, at agumm@jub.com or 208-870-8751.
POCATELLO – At approximately 6:30 pm on Tuesday a mud slide necessitated the closure of SH-36 between Ovid and Preston. Continued warming temperatures resulted in two more slides in the area. As of 2:30 pm Wednesday the highway remains closed north of Mink Creek.
ITD crews are working to clear ditch and culverts to help the spring runoff waters move away from the highway. However, the safety of the travelling public is the primary concern and the road will remain closed until engineers are confident the roadway is safe.
To travel between Preston and Montpelier motorists can detour via SH-34 and US-30.
As Idaho enters the late spring, this winter’s heavy precipitation in the Franklin, Caribou, and Bear Lake Counties presents a significant chance of flooding. Motorists need to be aware of local conditions and not drive through water running over the roadways.
To get the latest updates on road conditions and closures, please check 511.idaho.gov or download the 511 app.
POCATELLO – The recent snowstorm has delayed delivery of girders for the new I-15 bridge at the System Interchange in Pocatello. ITD planned to install the girders this weekend, but they could not be safely delivered to Pocatello in time. This means the planned lane closures for this weekend will also be delayed until all of the girders can be safely delivered to Pocatello. When that occurs, ITD will update the public.
To protect Idaho’s workers and other motorists, ITD asks those travelling on Idaho’s highways to follow work zone speed limits, be patient, and plan for extra time to travel to their destinations.
To learn more about the final design of the System Interchange citizens can watch this video: https://youtu.be/KRdVBAyXweA
POCATELLO – With the arrival of spring the Idaho Transportation Department is ramping-up construction at the System Interchange in Pocatello. As part of Governor Little’s “Leading Idaho” initiative, the System Interchange is being redesigned to replace aging bridges built in the 1960s and improve traffic safety.
While work at the interchange continued throughout the winter, in the coming week ITD’s contractor will be placing girders for the new I-15 northbound bridge. This will necessitate rolling slowdowns, delays, and short detours around the I-86 to I-15 ramp leading from Chubbuck toward Blackfoot.
Additionally, as work progresses into the first week of April the Chubbuck Road bridge will be demolished. This will be done in stages with traffic detoured through Chubbuck at night. The first closure will be for northbound traffic and the second for southbound I-15 traffic.
Other projects will also see ramped-up operations including the Fort Hall Interchange and bridge work on I-86. With unprecedented funding made available for construction, Idaho motorists will continue to see increased activity on Idaho’s highways.
To protect Idaho’s workers and other motorists, ITD asks those travelling on Idaho’s highways to follow work zone speed limits, be patient, and plan for extra time to travel to their destinations.
To learn more about the final design of the System Interchange citizens can watch this video https://youtu.be/KRdVBAyXweA
EAST IDAHO – The Idaho Transportation Department is working to address potholes created by rapidly changing temperatures this winter. Recent snows followed by warm temperatures allows water to enter through cracks in asphalt. When that water freezes at night it can result in potholes forming on the surface of Idaho’s highways and freeways.
While winter maintenance typically focuses on keeping roads clear of snow, crews are also repairing potholes on I-15, within the city of Idaho Falls, as well as in other areas of the region.
D5 operations engineer Greydon Wright says, “The biggest area that we have been fighting them are on I-15 between Exit 93 (Blackfoot) and the Blackfoot Rest Areas.”
Similarly, D6 operations engineer Bryan Young reports they have been hard at work as well, “This week we have received numerous comments about the potholes in Idaho Falls. The Idaho Falls Maintenance Shed has successfully repaired the major potholes and will continue to repair the roadways as more potholes appear.” However, Young points out that repairs are weather dependent. So, drivers must still pay attention to avoid hitting a rough piece of pavement.
Patching during the winter consists of using a “cold patch” that is intended to be a temporary solution. Crews will return in the summer to perform more permanent repairs as needed. In addition, ITD has several projects scheduled this year to address older pavement throughout the region.
POCATELLO – Beginning Thursday morning work crews at the System Interchange will begin pile driving piers for new bridges. As part of Governor Little’s Leading Idaho initiative, the project was fast-tracked partly due to the aging 1960s bridges due for replacement. The new piers will create a stable foundation to protect the structure of the new bridges.
Pile driving uses a hydraulic hammer that forces piers downward through the soil. Unavoidably, the operation creates noise as the hammer falls on the pier. Work for this portion of the project will be conducted during the daytime. However, in the next week or two additional pile driving will be required at Chubbuck Road that will include some nighttime work.
Motorists should carefully follow signs and posted speed limits while travelling through the construction area. With crews working day and night and with the onset of winter it is especially important that drivers be alert and proceed safely through the work area. Drivers are encouraged to check https://511.idaho.gov or the 511 app to keep track of road conditions and construction. Project details are available on ITD’s projects website — https://itdprojects.org/projects/i-86-i-15-system-interchange/
This project is partially funded with Transportation Expansion and Congestion Mitigation (TECM) funds as part of Governor Little’s Leading Idaho initiative. 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.
Pile driving utilizes a hydraulic hammer to place the piles deep below the surface of the ground.
