Chubbuck leaders push for I-15/Siphon interchange

A new interchange could soon connect Chubbuck to Interstate 15 if local leaders get their way.

Chubbuck’s mayor and others say it would take between $14 million and $18 million to extend Siphon Road from Hiline Road to the interstate and build an interchange.

The Bannock Transportation Planning Organization is currently applying for a $10 million federal TIGER grant to help pay for construction, which Chubbuck Mayor Kevin England said could begin next year.

BPTO Director Mori Byington said the interchange, which has been discussed since the 1990s, could divert up to 10,000 vehicles from Yellowstone Avenue.

“A lot of our areas we’ve looked at how do we improve congestion and that location of putting in a new interchange keeps coming up,” said Byington.

But England is more excited about the manufacturing jobs he said an interchange would bring.

“We see this as being a big game changer in our economic development plan,” said England.

England said he’s talked to a number of companies who’ve expressed interest in moving to Chubbuck, but he said the deals always fall through because of the lack of access to I-15.

“The only access to the interstate has been to come back through town. Well, this will give them a direct access to the interstate,” said England.

The BPTO has until June 5 to apply for the grant and Byington said they expect to hear back by the end of the year.

England said that if the funding is approved, the interchange could be completed as early as 2018.