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Meridian Interchange public meeting generates input

ITD held the first of three public meetings last week at Wahooz Fun Center in Meridian to explain plans to reconstruct three interchanges in the Treasure Valley – Meridian, Broadway and Gowen.

Approximately 85 people attended the meeting to discuss the $40 million Meridian Road Interchange reconstruction project, which is slated to begin next spring.

A number of comments emerged from of the Meridian meeting, including one from Don Johnson, who lives south of Interstate 84. He said he has advocated replacing the existing interchange for some time.

"I was on the Treasure Valley Sounding Board in the 90s," Johnson said. "We talked about this back then. Look at the projected traffic. We've got to keep ahead of that."

David and Marsha Dodge, who live about three-quarters of a mile away from the existing interchange, hope winter driving conditions will improve after the new interchange is built.

"When winter comes, I've seen slideoffs on the eastbound on-ramp," David Dodge said. "I've seen many cars in the ditch."

Marsha Dodge said she doesn't think there is enough space when making turns from the westbound off-ramp.

"When you are westbound and turning to go south on Meridian Road, it's tight making that turn," she said. "I'm glad to see that's going to be going away."

Meetings followed on July 31 to discuss the $31 million Gowen interchange rebuild, and another is scheduled for Wednesday (Aug. 7) for reconstruction of the $53 million Broadway interchange.

Online public meetings will be offered after the face-to-face meetings conclude. They will provide opportunities for people who aren't able to attend the public meetings to learn more about the projects and make comments. The same project information and displays will be available at the online meetings as in the public meeting.