Media Manager

RIGBY - On Monday (May 2), preparations to move traffic on U.S. 20 north of Idaho Falls to the northbound lanes will begin, and the Telford, St. Leon and Hitt road intersections will be closed, the Idaho Transportation Department announced.

The change to two-way, two-lane traffic and a reduced speed limit of 45 mph will be in effect by the end of the week and remain in effect throughout the summer through the work zone, a distance of more than three miles.

The Telford, St. Leon and Hitt connections to U.S. 20 will be closed to traffic entering and leaving U.S. 20. Access will remain open off Hitt Road to the convenience store near U.S. 20. Motorists may use Idaho 43 from Ucon to Beaches Corner to access Idaho Falls.

Over the next three months, the contractor, General Construction of Boise, will build the new alignment of U.S. 20 over the new Hitt and St. Leon interchange structures. Traffic will be switched to the new alignment in late summer to allow construction of the on- and off-ramps, county road connections and other features.

Electronic message boards will be used to notify motorists of changes in the traffic flow.

The public is invited to bring questions or concerns to project meetings held Thursdays at 11:30 a.m. at the ITD District 6 office, 206 N. Yellowstone, Rigby. The meetings will continue through the end of the project.

Completion of the $19 million project is scheduled for late fall.