Improvements to Ammon intersection hopes to maximize safety

Stopping at the intersection of Sunnyside Road and Ammon Road during rush hour traffic might seem like a pain. But pretty soon, moving through the area will seem like a breeze thanks to a new grant for the city of Ammon.

The $697,000 local strategic initiatives grant is for construction and improvements at the intersection.

“The Sunnyside and Ammon intersection is one of the most congested intersections in the city of Ammon and unfortunately is one of the most dangerous intersections in the city of Ammon,” said Micah Austin, the city administrator for the city of Ammon.

Between the year 2000 and the year 2016, the flow of traffic has almost doubled. Austin said that over 14,000 vehicles travel through the intersection daily.

“There are several schools in the area that drive traffic through that intersection, but it’s not just the rush hour traffic,” Austin said. “That intersection is key to a lot of businesses and neighborhoods within the city of Ammon. We see high traffic counts at that intersection at all working hours of the day.”

With so much movement through there, safety is vital to the city.

The Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office reported that in 2018 there were seven accidents — including one vehicle versus pedestrian.

“Make it safer for pedestrians, safer for people on bikes, safer for people pushing strollers and more efficient and safer for people in vehicles as well,” Austin said.

Safety improvements include a traffic signal upgrade from the current stop sign, lane configuration modification, and better sidewalks.

“We also want to make an intersection that encourages more economic development and growth in that part of Ammon,” Austin said.

Along with safety and mobility improvements, there will also be modifications to the storm drainage system at the two roads.

Construction will be finished in 2019.