Want to see a major Idaho 55 change in McCall? You can provide feedback
The Idaho Transportation Department is considering changes to Idaho Highway 55 through the busy lakeside town of McCall, and it wants your feedback.
In conjunction with the city, ITD is weighing a big change and potential improvements to make travel smoother on the busy north-south corridor that connects Boise to the Payette Lake area and the Brundage Mountain ski resort.
The specific area targeted for improvement is the town itself. Idaho 55 functions as McCall’s “main street,” winding through town and right beside the lake, and that has “placed pressure on the route’s function as an efficient state highway,” according to ITD. So a possible solution is to have a corridor exchange, with Idaho 55 following the route of Deinhard Lane to Boydstun Street, which is also known as West Mountain Road.
The goal would be to reduce traffic in downtown McCall by improving Deinhard and Boydstun to serve as Idaho 55. Many freight drivers and travelers already use Dienhard/Boydstun as a cut-around, ITD said.
A potential change also would ensure that funding and maintenance, especially winter maintenance, align with how the roads are being used, according to ITD.
The change also would allow for more walking and biking on Third and Lake streets in downtown McCall, which are the current Idaho 55 route. That stretch through McCall experienced 84 crashes from 2017 to 2021, according to ITD. The proposed alternate route had 27 accidents during the same time frame.
“Public input is key to ensuring proposed improvements meet the needs of McCall residents, businesses, and visitors,” project manager Wendy Howell said in a news release. “We encourage everyone to participate, either in person or online.”
An in-person session will take place from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 6, at the McCall Public Library in the Community Hall located at 218 Park Street.
Online feedback can be shared Aug. 6-20 at sh55deinhard-boydstun.com.
