Wind Blows Travelers Through Rigby

When I-15 closed between Idaho Falls and Roberts, traffic redirected through Rigby helped local businesses.

The I-15 road closure may have delayed travelers driving north of Idaho falls but Rigby businesses are grateful for the customers it has blown in.

When 1-15 closes, traffic is detoured onto State Highway 48 from Roberts to Rigby helping businesses at the intersection of First Street and State Street see a good increase in the number of customers.

With wind gusts well over 40 miles per hour, Idaho State Police said it was just too dangerous to drive on, confusing some drivers like Jon Muri making his way from great Falls Montana to Rock Springs Wyoming for a wrestling match Thursday.

“It was very confusing,? Muri said. ?Luckily I was following someone who knew where they were going.”

But when travelers stop in Rigby, business benefits.

“We’ve seen it close down but not as much as recently,” Troy Donaldson said. Donaldson works at Rigby’s Stop N Go convenience store and said the increase in I-15 closures this year have brought in a lot more customers.

“We do have a lot of people coming in to stretch their legs, ask for directions and get back on the highway, and it always helps when they come in the store because it helps to increase sales,” Donaldson said.

Donaldson said it helps they have what people want when they’re on the road.

“More gas more sodas, things like that,” Donaldson said.

And they aren’t the only ones, Arctic Circle supervisor Amy Thomas said they too have seen a lot more folks making their way through the drive-through.

“We get really really busy, back to back orders, especially through the drive thru, people coming off the freeway wanting to come and eat and go,” Thomas said.

“There is definitely no shortage of things to do around here,” Donaldson said.