Construction set to begin at Highway 30 intersection

A two-month construction project begins next week to upgrade the intersection of Old Highway 30 and Frontage and Ditto Creek roads.

The $1.2 million project will double the width of the existing two-lane intersection, located just south of the Exit 90 off ramp.

Crews will expand Frontage and Dittto Creek roads to four lanes each. Meanwhile, the highway itself will expand from two to five lanes, which includes the addition of a center turn lane.

These improvements seek to make the intersection safer for drivers, especially those turning onto or off of Ditto Creek Road, said Jennifer Gonzalez, a spokesperson with the Idaho Transportation Department. The wider roadway will also make it easier for semi truck drivers to make that turn.

Expected to continue through August, construction crews will also reconstruct additional stretches of pavement along Highway 30. Work is scheduled for Monday through Friday during daylight hours, and the speed limit in the construction zone will drop to 45 miles per hour.

Two traffic lanes will remain open throughout the project, although drivers could face delays through the construction zone, Gonzalez said. Drivers are encouraged to slow down and give themselves extra time, she added. The project isn't expected to affect east- or westbound traffic on the interstate.

Oversized trucks or vehicles needing special accommodations to get through the construction area are asked to call 761-4529 in advance to make arrangements.