NOTE TO EDITORS: Please disregard earlier news release.

RIGBY - Public outreach meetings to receive input on the design of a new interchange on U.S. 20 at Thornton are scheduled today (Thursday, Aug. 29) and again on Sept. 19, the Idaho Transportation Department announced.

Public outreach meetings on the project are scheduled as follows:

- Business Owner Workshop – Madison High School library (2300 University Blvd. in Rexburg) today, Aug. 29, 2013, from 6 to 8 p.m.

- General Public Open House – South Fork Elementary School (7163 South 2000 West, on the west side of the Archer Highway in south Madison County) on Sept. 19, 2013, from 6 to 8 p.m.

This project will construct a full interchange near 4700 South or Smith Road in Madison County, complementing the county’s planned 5000 South project to improve traffic flow in south Madison County. Estimated construction cost of the new interchange is $14 million. The project will improve safety by closing all remaining at-grade (direct) accesses to U.S. 20 between Idaho Falls and Sugar City.

Construction is scheduled to begin in 2016.