17th and Woodruff reopens in Idaho Falls

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) - Many drivers in Idaho Falls have been waiting for this day for several months. It's the reopening of the intersection at Woodruff and 17th St.

As part of the construction, Woodruff was closed in April for through traffic at 17th Street. It forced drivers heading north or south to detour around the intersection. 

But all that changed Thursday as construction ended, and the intersection is now open.

Drivers say they love that there is one less construction project in town.

"It feels pretty good. It's very smooth. It drives well," a driver said while waiting at the new traffic signal.  "I’m very happy, I think I’ll look forward to seeing fewer potholes during the winter," another driver said.

"It’s nice to see all the lanes open. All the people are able to turn and it’s operational. This is a good job," another driver mentioned.

Earlier in the morning, there were some electrical issues with some of the crosswalks, but all of those issues were resolved.

Some of the improvements included an additional left turn lane and a dedicated right turn lane in each direction, concrete medians were installed to restrict left turns and reduce accidents. They also added new waterlines, curbs, gutters, traffic lights, and landscaping.

Officials say they will continue to monitor the intersection over the next couple of months.