5/7/2007
Construction on a new street to link BYU-Idaho with U.S. 20 to start Thursday (May 10)
RIGBY - Construction on a new street to link Brigham Young University-Idaho (BYU-Idaho) with U.S. 20 will begin Thursday (May 10), the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) announced.
The new street will extend University Boulevard, which runs adjacent to A-1 Rental Inc. at the south Rexburg interchange (Exit 332) of U.S. 20, to 2nd West near the Rexburg Nursing Home.
The street extension will run 1.7 miles east and north through farmland from the intersection of Yellowstone Highway and University Boulevard and connect to the intersection of 2nd West and 7th South in Rexburg.
The extension will provide direct access to BYU-Idaho and the new Mormon temple on 7th South. The only stop light between U.S. 20 and these destinations will be the existing traffic signal at the intersection of University Boulevard and Yellowstone Highway.
Rexburg officials expect this new route to attract motorists both north and south of town. "The city has planned the road for 30 years," Public Works Director John Millar said.
Crews will first construct a two-lane highway, but the roadway will eventually become a five-lane arterial, matching the five lanes of University Boulevard (formerly 1500 South).
During construction, traffic interference will be minimal, with reductions in the speed limit or temporary delays anticipated only when crews connect the new city street to existing roads.
Work will take place between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Friday. The project is scheduled for completion Oct. 31 of this year.
As part of the project, crews will upgrade the traffic signal at the stop light at the intersection of University Boulevard and Yellowstone Highway.
Sponsored by the city of Rexburg, the $4.8 million project is being administered by ITD using federal and city funds. Rexburgs share of the cost is $1, 070,000.
ITD awarded H-K Contractors, Inc. of Idaho Falls the construction contract on April 16.
For information on other highway projects in Idaho, call 511 or visit the 511.idaho.gov Web site.