Idaho road projects, including Highway 16 extension, Idaho 55, push ahead with surplus funds
Idaho’s road network is scheduled for more than $2 billion in upgrades over the next two years, including tens of millions in tax surplus revenues set aside by Gov. Brad Little to accelerate several key highway improvement projects.
The Idaho Transportation Department recently mapped out what the agency called its most ambitious multiyear roads plan to date after “unprecedented funding levels,” in part because of the Republican governor’s use of excess tax dollars toward roads and bridges. The Idaho Legislature approved Little’s recommendation of investing $500 million into the state’s infrastructure network from two consecutive years of record budget surpluses, creating the chance to address both a deferred maintenance backlog and expansions from growth.
From the total pot of funds, which Little labeled part of his “Leading Idaho” initiative, $100 million was designated to advance a collection of ITD projects.
Four major arteries in the Treasure Valley have been prioritized for the bulk of those surplus funds to try and catch up to the region’s rapid population growth. The projects each aim to reduce traffic congestion, enhance safety and modernize aging infrastructure, ITD officials said.
Within Canyon and Ada counties, tens of millions are baked into the state’s seven-year plan into 2029 toward planning, design and construction of critical interchanges and lane-widening projects to boost safety and improve traffic flows.
On the Ada-Canyon County border, a mix of the state and federal transportation funds will ultimately deliver the long-awaited extension of Idaho 16 from U.S. 20-26/Chinden Road between Interstate 84 and Star Road. Construction started last month to widen I-84 started on the section from Chinden Road to Middleton Road and is scheduled to continue through 2024 while design work is completed for the Middleton Road to Star Road section.
Most the estimated $152 million construction price tag for the 6-mile section between Middleton and Star roads remains unfunded. But $78 million of the overall cost of $230 million will be spent through 2025 on property acquisitions, planning and initial construction of the transition to three lanes in each direction, center two-way left turn lanes and updated road signals.
In Canyon County, around $30 million for property acquisitions and more than $8 million in design costs along Idaho 55, from Sunnyslope to Nampa. Federal dollars will largely pick up the tab of both expenses, which ITD said will eventually lead to address traffic volumes beyond current road capacity, with the additional state dollars acting as a required match pushing the project closer to construction.
Elsewhere on Idaho 55 in Canyon County, another $58 million in state funds will be spent through 2025 on planning and property acquisitions between Farmway and Middleton roads. The project envisions a continuous median for added safety along the 5-mile stretch, and two travel lanes in each direction, though the estimated $122 million for construction has yet to be identified.
In the latter years of the state’s seven-year plan, Idaho 44/State Street in Ada County is slated for a road-widening project for an additional lane in each direction to reduce congestion along the 2-mile segment between Star Road and Idaho 16. State dollars from other transportation sources will cover the local match on the estimated $12.5 million project, with about $10.5 million in federal funds currently making the possible in 2027.
Planning years ahead for these main transportation corridor upgrades is important to staying ahead of traffic and safety needs, ITD officials said. The agency continues to invite public feedback as the projects get closer to being shovel ready.
“Involving the Idaho road user and taxpayer in our transportation-planning process provides the most thorough document that combines public input and our own engineering guidance to create a comprehensive plan that best fits community needs across the state,” Bill Moad, who chairs the Idaho Transportation Board, said in a news release.
The governor’s Leading Idaho initiative also reserved $200 million in one-time funds to repair and replace bridges within local jurisdictions, and another $200 million in ongoing long-term maintenance of the state’s bridges.
Little, who is currently running for reelection for his second term as governor, highlighted the greater benefits of applying surplus tax dollars to advance Idaho’s growing infrastructure needs.
“We are taking advantage of once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to fully fund known transportation needs — to maintain our roads and bridges permanently — with no new taxes,” Little said in a statement to the Statesman. “We cannot continue our record economic trajectory if our logging trucks can’t get across old bridges or we can’t get our farm products to market.”
To view the full list of the Idaho’s planned road and highway projects into 2029, and how state funds will be used to complete them, visit the Idaho Transportation Department website.
