Summer Construction Projects Start In Idaho Falls

With temperatures heating up, Idaho Falls crews are warming up their equipment to give downtown a major face lift.

One of the areas under construction already is Constitution Way between Yellowstone Avenue and Capital Avenue.

Crews are putting in new parking the middle of the street and changing parking stalls on the sides of the road into parallel spaces.

This is just the beginning of several downtown projects.

It’s been more than a year in the making, but on July 9 it will become a reality.

The finished Memorial Drive project will include a roundabout at Riverside Drive and a 46-stall parking lot.

City planner Brad Cramer said even land on the river will be widened.

“It’s such an asset in our community to have the river and the falls. We really are excited to be taking better advantage of it,” said Cramer.

Before construction can kick off on the project, city planners have to ensure at least 200 parking spots are available elsewhere to make up for spots lost on The Greenbelt.

That’s why Constitution is getting more parking and more lots have been acquired on E Street.

On D Street, the decades-old railroad underpass is slated for replacement and widening, starting as early as August.

City engineer Kent Fugal said, while Memorial Drive should be done as early as October of this year, this project will take just a little bit longer to complete. It’s projected finish is in August 2013 and it will be closed to traffic the entire time.

“If we could close the railroad down, it would be a lot faster, but obviously that’s not possible,” said Fugal.

The good news about the Memorial Drive project is that drivers will be able to pass through during the day time Monday through Saturday.

Night-time hours and Sundays may be a different story though.

Plans to improve the intersection of Hitt Road and 17th Street are still underway.

U-turns may be put in on a portion of the roadway, but Fugal said details are still being worked out.