7/23/2010
Motorists must use north Rigby exit to access locations east or west of U.S. 20 during interchange construction
RIGBY ‑ Motorists on U.S. 20 must take the north Rigby exit (Exit 322) to access businesses and other locations east or west of the highway between Rigby and the Snake River at Lorenzo, the Idaho Transportation Department announced.
Drivers are advised that using Exit 322 and adjoining county roads are the only means of reaching businesses such as Grover's All Wheels, Mickelsen Storage, Branson Tractors, Krupp Scout Hollow and the Blue Heron Inn east of the highway and Long Island Business Park, Merrill's Wood Working, JAB Construction, Steel Vision Construction, ARS Flood and Fire Cleanup, Roof Top Solutions, Alpine Timber Frame and Truss, Advanced Plumbing and Mechanical, High Country Heat and Air Conditioning, Merrill Lawn Sprinkler Inc. and South Fork Log and Timber west of the highway.
All accesses on U.S. 20 between Rigby and the Snake River are permanently closed, due to the construction of the Menan‑Lorenzo Interchange north of Rigby, now in full swing.
Crews are building on- and off-ramps for the interchange's northbound lanes, which will serve as a detour when workers begin elevating U.S. 20 over the Menan‑Lorenzo Highway. The Menan‑Lorenzo Highway will be realigned and improved south of its current location.
Traffic is reduced to one lane in each direction, and the speed limit reduced to 45 mph in the construction zone. Motorists should watch for construction workers, equipment and obey all traffic signs. The transportation department estimates the project will be finished next summer.
Visitors to the Blue Heron Inn north of Lorenzo must reach the bed and breakfast facility via a temporary access road within the construction zone north of the intersection of Island Canal and Yellowstone Highway. Drivers must reach this temporary road by way of the Yellowstone Highway and 4200 East, which runs north and south on the east side of U.S. 20. Detour signs are in place.
During construction, the Lorenzo Boat Access exit and the Archer exit (River Bridge Road) north of the river will remain open, except drivers will not be able to turn south onto U.S. 20 from the River Bridge Road intersection, which runs east into 6800 South in Madison County.
The new interchange will include north and south entrances and exits to improve access on and off U.S. 20, the Menan‑Lorenzo Highway and adjacent areas.
For information on construction/maintenance projects along Idaho highways, visit the Idaho Traveler Services Web site at 511.idaho.gov or dial 5‑1‑1 on phones within the state. Outside Idaho, dial toll‑free (888) 432‑7623. Information is updated as conditions change.