Two projects are set to begin Monday to create a center mumble strip and add a passing lane on State Highway 33. Motorists will experience lane closures and delays at various times through the summer.
A mumble strip along the center line of SH-33 will be added to increase safety and avoid collisions from the intersection of State Highway 32 to the Wyoming state line. The mumble strip will not be added within the city limits of Tetonia, Driggs and Victor. All striping will also be redone. This project will close one lane in the current work area and be complete within two weeks. Mumble strips are similar to rumble strips but are rounded so noise is heard by the driver and less by surrounding homes and businesses.
Work on the addition of a passing lane, center and right turn lanes and the realignment of Baseline Road along SH-33 between Victor and Teton Pass also begins Monday. Drivers should plan for delays between 15 and 30 minutes as temporary signals will alternate traffic through the work zone from mileposts 151 to 153. Crews will remove outdated concrete cattle underpasses and widen the road to ultimately give motorists a chance to pass slow-moving vehicles before entering Teton Pass. This work will be complete mid to late-September.
Motorists should remember to use caution and be patient through construction zones as the Idaho Transportation Department and contractors work to make the road better for the future. Stay up to date on status of these projects and others by visiting 511.idaho.gov, calling 5-1-1 or downloading the app.
Starting in late May the Idaho Transportation Department will widen State Highway 33 near Victor to include a passing lane, center turn lane, and right turn lanes. Construction is anticipated to start on May 20.
Motorists can plan on one lane remaining open throughout construction, which is expected to last until early to mid-September. Fifteen-minute wait times between milepost 151 and 153 may occur as flaggers direct traffic. Cones will be moved out of the way of traffic each night, and all lanes will be open.
A new passing lane for eastbound traffic between milepost 151 and 152 will improve the flow of traffic on SH-33 before motorists begin to traverse Teton Pass. A center turn lane will continue after the passing lane to make it easier for drivers to access area subdivisions and Trail Creek Community Pond. Baseline Road will also be realigned to improve visibility at the intersection of SH-33.
Old cattle underpasses that are no longer used exist in three different areas along SH-33 where this work will be done. This means crews need to remove old cement structures, excavate the ground down eight feet and then rebuild one foot at a time to ensure road integrity. Motorists will note additional time spent on those sections of work, with crews present in those areas for longer and flaggers remaining overnight.
This project is made possible through a grant obtained by Teton County of Wyoming in partnership with ITD, Teton County of Idaho, the town of Jackson, the city of Driggs and others. Information about additional planned improvements through the grant can be found at tetonbuildgrant.com.
Stay up to date on the status of this project and others by visiting 511.idaho.gov, calling 5-1-1 or downloading the app.
