9/19/2013
Radioactive waste shipment to temporarily close highways between Idaho Falls and Arco
RIGBY - A shipment of radioactive waste from the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) will require a temporary closure of highways between Idaho Falls and Arco, Thursday (Sept. 26), the Idaho Transportation Department announced. Crews will close the highways up to 40 minutes between 2 a.m. and 2:40 a.m.
The early-morning closure will be on U.S. 20 between the entrance to the Materials and Fuels Complex (MFC), which is 28 miles west of Idaho Falls, and U.S. 20/26 west of the entrance to the Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Project (AMWTP), which is 18 miles east of Arco. Crews also will close U.S. 26 south of its junction with U.S. 20, which is south of INL.
Motorists are advised to avoid the affected highways during the Thursday morning closure.
INL will transport the radioactive waste in specially designed containers from MFC to AMWTP for repackaging and shipment out of Idaho. INL periodically transports radioactive waste between facilities along U.S. 20/26 and/or U.S. 20.