Ground broken for Jackson Hole Junction commercial center

The 42-acre project has been in the works for two years. The project will develop a plot of land between Teton Toyota and Interstate 15.

The area will house a big box store, a hotel, banks, gas stations, fast food establishments, restaurants and convenience stores.

Matt Morgan of Morgan Construction, which is spearheading the project, said the plan will help expand the community and attract jobs.

“I think the quality of life that we have in southeast Idaho is appealing to people from outside the area. We feel that the demand is here and that we are moving in the right direction,” Morgan said.

However, the first phase of the project is to build a new access road and a four-way traffic signal that will accommodate new traffic flow created by new businesses. That construction is scheduled to start Friday.

Developers expect to start construction on the Jackson Hole Junction project by next spring.

The new signal was approved by the Idaho Transportation Department.

“It will help control high volumes of traffic that is needed. We conducted a broad traffic impact study. The city of Idaho Falls participated in the study, along with other neighboring businesses,” Morgan said.

The signaled intersection will be on the north side of Sunnyside Road.

“You can expect in the next 30 days the completion of the new access and phase one of new traffic signal improvements,” Morgen said.

The project is estimated to cost $200 million.