Some of Boise area’s busiest highways slated for upgrades. Here’s the priority list
In order to combat bumper-to-bumper traffic and curb driver frustration, the Idaho Transportation Department has prioritized a series of major infrastructure projects across the Treasure Valley aimed at lessening congestion.
State highways 16 and 44, Interstate 84 and U.S. 20/26 are among the roads expected to receive infrastructure improvements, with significant investment in the fast-growing Eagle/Star area of Ada County.
These improvements will be done with support from the Transportation Expansion and Congestion Mitigation fund, which received an extra $20 million a year for three years through House Bill 25, according to a news release from ITD.
Here are the plans, according to the release:
Idaho 16: From Idaho 44 to Beacon Light Road, the project will widen the road from two to four lanes and include a median barrier between the future Idaho 44 interchange and Beacon Light. An overpass will also be included on Floating Feather Road, and the construction is expected to begin in 2027, a year before previously planned.
I-84: ITD says there is an ongoing study regarding which infrastructure improvements are most needed on the Treasure Valley’s congested freeway. This study is anticipated to provide a prioritized list of needed improvements, and construction funding will be given to the highest-priority needs. One suggested improvement is the addition of auxiliary lanes between Boise and Nampa.
U.S. 20/26: From Middleton to Star, the highway will be widened to two lanes in both directions, and a continuous center turn lane will be added. Construction on this improvement is expected to begin in 2026, which ITD says is four years earlier than previously planned.
Idaho 44: It will be widened from three to five lanes from Mira Avenue to Moyle Avenue, a section between Star and Idaho 16. Construction is expected to start in 2027, which is two years earlier than planned. The road will also be resurfaced from Star Road to Mira.
These improvement projects are now included in the draft Idaho Transportation Investment Program, and the public will be able to give feedback and comments on the projects, and any planned project for 2026-2032, in July, prior to the draft’s presentation for board approval in September.
This story was originally published June 12, 2025 at 4:26 PM.