9/18/2008
Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov
Input from local governments key to plan for additional Snake River crossing
SHOSHONE - Involvement of the local governments in Twin Falls and Jerome counties will be the next step in planning an additional Snake River crossing, the Idaho Transportation Department announced.
Recommendations of the recently completed Snake River Crossing Reassessment study suggest the counties should pursue long-term corridor planning and amend their transportation plans to show a new crossing and connecting roadways. The recommended strategy changes are based on the assumption that local governments wish to pursue planning of a new bridge crossing.
"This is truly a local issue. It's been community involvement that has taken it this far and it will continue to be a locally driven project," District 4 Engineer Devin Rigby said. "ITD plans to be there every step of the way to assist in the research, planning and public information as this project moves forward."
Local action is needed if the bridge crossing planning is to progress to the environmental study phase. Federal Highway Administration restrictions state that additional federal funding cannot be granted until the crossing and corresponding road sections are identified in the transportation plans for both counties as well as the ITD Long Range Capital Improvement and Preservation Program.
The reassessment study, completed by the planning and engineering firm Parsons Brinkerhoff of Murray, Utah, was a follow-up to the Snake River Crossing Plan study released in 2000, which identified the possible corridor alignments and recommendations for the crossing.
The proposed corridor extends north from Pole Line Road in Twin Falls County on 2400 East Road to 300 West Road in Jerome County and north to Interstate 84.
The reassessment found that the high cost of the new connection relative to the projected usage indicates it is not worth pursuing at this time but led the researchers to conclude that planning was needed. If constructed today, a new bridge and connecting roadway is estimated to cost about $177 million.
Using computerized traffic forecasting, the reassessment included an evaluation of future travel and estimates of how many vehicle trips would be diverted from the three existing crossings to the additional crossing.
The results indicate that 7,000 to 10,000 cross-river trips would be diverted from the Perrine Bridge in 2030, but the additional crossing would not change future congestion issues expected on the Perrine and the rest of the Blue Lakes Corridor. It was concluded that the three existing river crossings - the Perrine Bridge, Hansen Bridge and the Clear Lakes Bridge near Buhl - can accommodate the projected 2030 cross-river demand.
"Based on the community involvement on this project, ITD believes the crossing will continue to have a future as the Magic Valley grows and its transportation needs evolve," Rigby said.