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Board selects sites for two U.S. 20 interchanges

The Idaho Transportation Board, meeting Wednesday and Thursday in Boise, approved locations for the Menan-Lorenzo and Thornton interchanges on U.S. 20 in eastern Idaho.

The board approved alternative ML-A for the Menan-Lorenzo Interchange, to be located north of Rigby and south of the Snake River. ML-A will connect to 700 North (Menan-Lorenzo Highway) and LaBelle Road.

Option T-G was approved for the Thornton Interchange. T-G is located north of the community of Thornton and will connect to 3300 West and 4700 South.

Completion of these interchanges will eliminate all remaining at-grade crossings of U.S. 20 between Rigby and Rexburg, improving traveler safety on the highway and county roads.

A public hearing was held June 23, where potential locations for each alternative were presented. Public comment along with engineering feasibility, environmental impacts and cost were considered in selecting the alternatives that best meet community needs.

Construction of the Menan-Lorenzo Interchange is planned to begin in 2008. Final design and purchase of right-of-way will begin immediately.

The Thornton Interchange project is listed in the State Transportation Improvement Program in preliminary development with no date specified for construction, however, ITD will begin the final design for the Thornton Interchange and purchase needed right-of-way.

Additional information regarding the alternatives and the selection process can be found on the Web at itd.idaho.gov/getinvolved/d6 then click on U.S. 20 Corridor Plan, Thornton, Menan-Lorenzo Interchanges.

Published 11-18-05