ITD wants to build off-ramp near Bear World
Summer construction is starting up, but one project can’t begin until the public weighs in. The Idaho Transportation Department wants to build a ramp off U.S. Highway 20 in Madison County to service Bear World and replace the current intersection.
Traffic officials said the grade is angled, and traffic moves just too fast to keep drivers safe while crossing.
Safety, commercial and emergency services access are all driving factors for a new southbound off-ramp near 4300 West.
ITD engineers are looking to add an off-ramp that follows Highway 20 and then curves up to the existing “Y” intersection. Then there will a roundabout to connect to what will soon be the Thornton Interchange.
A complete design is still being worked out between the agency and Madison County, and it likely won’t be cheap.
“A very rough estimate is half a million dollars to construct this off ramp,” said ITD spokesman Bruce King.
The ramp would be paid for through state funds.
Taxpayers have already given the state the go-ahead on the Thornton Interchange. Environmental assessments were done in 2005 and 2013, but they didn’t include this off-ramp.
“Inviting public input on projects is a part of our responsibility. We have environmental employees who work on these issues and study the environmental impacts, but we want to be sure that there isn’t something we overlooked,” said King.
Although environmental assessments for the Thornton Interchange found no significant impact, and it is likely results will be the same for this project, ITD wants to make sure its bases are covered before it moves forward.
You can comment on this project by contacting ITD by mail or email:
Idaho Transportation Department, District 6
Attn. David Alvarez, P.E.
PO Box 97
Rigby, ID 83442
David.alvarez@itd.idaho.gov
