Crews completed construction on a 1.7‑mile stretch of
Idaho 48 through the Rigby area Friday. Earlier this fall, crews completed work
on U.S. 20 northbound passing lanes between Island Park Lodge and Red Rock Road
and on southbound passing lanes between Henry's Fork Outlet Bridge and Idaho
87.
The projects are among 16 construction projects on
state highways funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of
2009, which Congress approved early this year to strengthen the economy through
investments in the transportation system. Idaho received $182 million for highway construction projects.
Several of the projects were substantially completed this
fall and need only finish work when construction resumes next spring.
The Idaho 48 improvement project is estimated to have
created or preserved 54 jobs while improving traffic safety and flow on the
main east-west artery between Rigby High School and the Yellowstone Highway.
Crews will add closing touches to the project in the
spring, such as seeding/sodding shoulders, seal-coating the new roadway and
painting yellow centerlines, white edge stripes and applying other pavement
markings.
The contractor will round the southeast corner of the
intersection of Idaho 48 (First South Street) and the U.S. 20 business loop
(State Street) in Rigby so northbound trucks can more easily and safely turn
east on Idaho 48 en route to potato warehouses and other businesses.
The reconstruction project consisted of widening the
corridor to three lanes, adding a right‑turn bay to the east (main) Rigby High School
entrance and installing curbs, gutters, sidewalks and approaches between the
high school and 3rd West in Rigby. The project also included resurfacing the
highway from 3rd West to the Yellowstone Highway east of Rigby.
Jefferson County Joint School District 251 Superintendent
Dr. Ron Tolman said, "Now that the project is complete, it is a joy to watch
the smoother traffic transitions around the high school. The road seems much
safer and easier for folks to negotiate. Thanks to ITD and the contractor for
their work on this needed undertaking."
Construction commenced Aug. 12, following a groundbreaking
ceremony presided over by Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter.
HK Contractors of Idaho Falls was the contractor on this
$2.9 million project.
Additional passing lanes on U.S. 20, the primary north-south
route between Idaho Falls and the Montana state line, will improve traffic
safety and flow along the busy section of highway that serves commercial trucks
and recreational vehicles traveling between West Yellowstone and the Snake
River Valley.
Gale Lim Construction of Blackfoot was the contractor on
the $2.3 million project, which created or sustained an estimated 41 jobs.
Crews will return next spring to apply a seal coat to protect the surface of
the passing lanes.
For construction/weather information on state highways and
the interstate system, access the Idaho Traveler Services Web site at
511.idaho.gov, or dial 5‑1‑1 from phones within Idaho.