We asked you what the worst roads in Boise were. We drove them. Here’s what we found out
It’s no secret that you usually need a car to get around Boise, or anywhere in the Treasure Valley for that matter. But that doesn’t mean it’s fun.
We asked readers in a previous article what they thought the Treasure Valley’s worst roads were, and 20 responded. Turns out there’s a lot to gripe about when it comes to the conditions of some roads: too much traffic, narrow lanes, lots of potholes.
We gathered some of the most frequent responses and compiled them here. We drove across these roads ourselves, just to see how bad they really were.
Eagle Road (north of I-84)
By far, the most responses came for Eagle Road, which crosses through Meridian, Boise and Eagle. The road saw an average of 40,000 vehicles per day in December 2021, according to the Idaho Department of Transportation.
The state highway contains some of the Treasure Valley’s busiest intersections and regularly sees thousands of vehicles crowding its roadways, especially during peak commute times.
Those who responded to our query cited congestion and the potholes that come from such heavy use.
“There are stretches where they have filled the potholes with blacktop, but within a week the holes are back,” Janice Perez said. “I think it’s time to plan an entire overhaul of the road surface. I realize it will be costly and timely, but the band-aid approach isn’t working.”
We noticed lots of what appeared to be recently patched-up potholes, especially around the Chinden Boulevard area.
The Idaho Transportation Department spent close to $9 million on upgrades in 2021, expanding intersections to allow more vehicles to travel on Eagle Road at once.
Five Mile Road at the I-84 overpass
It’s perhaps unsurprising that another busy intersection off the interstate also draws complaints. Not only does it have a high number of vehicles, but resident Brett Seely described it as a “death trap” for pedestrians.
That could be because of the lack of sidewalks in some parts of the road. The area around the Five Miles bridge over I-84 has little room for pedestrians to walk around.
The Ada County Highway District and Idaho Department of Transportation announced in February that the overpass would be replaced. Its estimated completion date is this summer.
The North End
While the North End is often celebrated for its historic homes, beauty and walkability, readers were less keen on its driving experience.
The narrow roads, combined with the large numbers of cars parked on the streets, can make navigating the historic streets difficult and somewhat treacherous. When we drove around the neighborhood, it was not uncommon to have to pull over for an oncoming car, as there was not room for two.
It was also hard to see oncoming cars at intersections, because of the sheer number of vehicles parked on the street.
Warm Springs Avenue
“Extremely rough” and “patched over” were some of the words used to describe this East Boise road. The 7-mile-long roadway had, at many parts, lots of cracks and filled potholes that make driving a less-than-smooth experience.
More concerning were the high speeds of some drivers, which can make for unnerving driving. One respondent described just how unsafe it could feel at times.
“People drive too fast for conditions with numerous driveways, side streets, pedestrian crossings in random spots due to no formal crossings,” Rob Stark said.
Respondents also noted “blind corners” as the road winds around the Boise Foothills. Natural rock features can sometimes block the view of the upcoming road.
The speed limit ranges from 30 to 40 miles per hour, depending on the location.
Rachel Bjornestad of Ada County Highway District said the agency has maintenance projects at Starcrest and Starview drives, and between Glacier Drive and State Highway 21.
She also said the Barber Valley Neighborhood Transportation Plan is considering how to improve pedestrian safety on Warm Springs.
Eckert Road at the Boise River
While sharing some of the same concerns as they had about Warm Springs, readers said the Eckert Road bridge across the Boise River near Harris Ranch is too narrow.
Also, during the summer river-floating season, driving can be risky as floaters park their vehicles alongside Eckert near the bridge and then walk to Barber Park, where most people’s floats begin. The park charges for parking, but the roadside is free.
One reader, Gregory Dawidczik, said the bridge over the New York Canal is problematic as well.
Bjornestad said ACHD has commissioned a study for fiscal year 2023 about replacing the Boise River bridge.
This story was originally published April 14, 2022 at 12:26 PM.
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