ITD seeks public comment on I-15/US-20 interchange rebuild

The Idaho Transportation Department is holding an online open house to solicit public commentary on rebuilding the connection between Interstate 15 and Highway US-20 in Idaho Falls.

The alternatives for rebuilding the highway junction have been updated on the ITD’s online open house website in the past few weeks.

Based on previous public input, ITD has narrowed the remaining number of alternatives down to two. Until Aug. 24, ITD will continue to collect public commentary at the project’s dedicated website. The website presents a series of visual presentations explaining the proposed reconstruction alternatives.

According to an email from Stephanie Borders, a consultant for ITD for this project, the highlights of the two remaining alternatives are as follows:

• The first alternative moves the I-15/US-20 interchange (exit 119) approximately a half mile north to Olympia Drive. The on- and off-ramps at the current exit 119 onto Grandview Drive will be removed and the current US-20 between the Grandview interchange east to Fremont Avenue will become a local street.
• The second alternative moves the I-15/US-20 interchange northward and builds a new bridge and connector in a location to be determined in order to minimize impacts to existing neighborhoods and businesses. US-20 between the current Grandview interchange (exit 119) and the Lewisville Highway will become a local road.

Both alternatives should eliminate the current mile-long traffic jam on Grandview during the evening rush hour as workers travel home from Idaho National Laboratory and other businesses on the north end of Idaho Falls.