A $40 million Ada County road proposal would prioritize a rising Star

The Ada County Highway District is closing in on a $40 million plan to widen Star Road — and expand access to the fast-growing suburb in the county’s northwest.

The ACHD board on Wednesday will consider a $4.99 million contract with Boise consultant Parametrix to design the project and work with landowners to acquire rights of way necessary to widen a two-mile stretch of Star Road between West Chinden Boulevard and West State Street. The contract is part of the board’s consent agenda — it won’t be discussed unless a commissioner decides it needs more deliberation. ACHD staff members recommended approving the agreement ahead of Wednesday’s regular meeting.

As written, the contract would see Parametrix draft plans to bring the road to five lanes with “buffered” pathways on either side for cyclists and pedestrians.

It’s a complicated chunk of road. The concept calls for replacing seven bridges — most significantly a 400-foot span across the Boise River — and evaluating intersections at State, Chinden and the Boise Greenbelt. Those considerations pushed the cost much higher than $2.5 million originally budgeted for project planning, according to a staff report.

But the idea addresses a handful of ACHD priorities in its northwest zone.

“The Commission programmed this project because it is the City of Star’s top request,” ACHD spokesperson Rachel Bjornestad told the Idaho Statesman in an email. “The City actually made it their #1, #2, and #3 requests.”

The timeline stipulates two phases, with construction on Phase 1 starting in fiscal year 2029 and Phase 2 in 2030-21, according to the five-year plan passed in October. For now, the combined construction costs are estimated close to $40 million. The plan is evaluated every year, and the costs and dates could change.

Star has nearly doubled in size since the 2020 Census, surpassing 25,000 in 2025, according to data from the Community Planning Association of Southwest Idaho.

This story was originally published January 27, 2026 at 4:00 AM.