6/1/2009
Rex Leland Highway (South 1950 East Road) near Wendell to open this week
WENDELL -- Reconstruction on a major commerce and commuting route in southern Gooding County is complete and the route is ready to reopen, the Idaho Transportation Department announced.
A portion of the Rex Leland Highway, 1950 East Road south from Wendell, will open to traffic beginning Thursday (June 4) after a closure of more than two months for improvements.
Following several rock blasts, more than 17,000 cubic yards of material were hauled and placed to rebuild the hazardous one-mile section. The reconstruction effort included rebuilding two lateral canal crossings and changing the road profile to increase sight distance.
The road is the main route south from Wendell to the Bob Barton Highway and southern travel toward Buhl. The federally-funded $1.1 million project was sponsored by the Wendell Highway District and administered by ITD.