8/30/2007
Mollie McCarty
ITD Chief External Affairs Officer
208-334-8804
mollie.mccarty@itd.idaho.gov
Idaho 55 Labor Day weekend travelers encouraged to avoid traffic congestion
BOISE - Recreationists who use Idaho 55 during the Labor Day weekend can avoid heavy traffic by traveling outside peak travel times or using an alternate route, the Idaho Transportation Department announced.
The transportation department's holiday traffic control project will assist motorists at the intersection of Idaho 55 and Banks to Lowman Road on Monday, Sept. 3, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The hours may be extended if traffic remains heavy there. Flaggers have assisted motorists at this intersection since 1995.
Motorists also should be aware of construction on Idaho 55 at Rainbow Bridge near Smiths Ferry.
Both lanes of the bridge will be open from noon on Friday, Aug. 31, to noon on Tuesday, Sept. 4, to accommodate holiday weekend traffic. Motorists traveling outside these times should expect delays of up to 15 minutes.
The Rainbow Bridge project is designed to preserve and protect the structure for future generations and improve safety for today's traveler. Mowat Construction Company is making improvements to the arch piers, bridge rail, floor beams, deck joints and bridge columns. The work is scheduled to be complete this fall.
Construction crews will take precautions to avoid impacts to rafters and kayakers on the North Fork of the Payette River.
The transportation department offers the following tips for holiday travelers:
* Consider using an alternate route other than Idaho 55. To use U.S. 95, travel north on Idaho 55 from McCall, take U.S. 95 south and use Interstate 84 to return to the Treasure Valley. This route may take less time than using Idaho 55 on a congested day. Recreationists leaving the Garden Valley area may want to use Idaho 21 to return to the Treasure Valley.
* If you choose to use Idaho 55 when congestion is heaviest, be patient and plan an extra hour or two for the return trip.