Learn about plans to improve I-15 near Blackfoot at public open houses on May 12 & 13

BLACKFOOT and FORT HALL-The Idaho Transportation Department will host open houses on May 12 and May 13 to present the final design for widening Interstate 15 between the South Blackfoot Interchange (Exit 89) and the US-26/Blackfoot Interchange (Exit 93).

Information about the widening and redesign of the Blackfoot Interchange, as well as plans to replace the Riverton Road Bridge will be available. Community members are encouraged to drop in any time to learn about the projects, ask questions and provide feedback to the project team:

• Tuesday, May 12, from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at the Shoshone-Bannock Convention Center (777 Bannock Ave., Fort Hall)

• Wednesday, May 13, from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at Ridge Crest Elementary School (800 Airport Rd., Blackfoot)

Those who are unable to join ITD in person are invited to participate online at itd.idaho.gov/project/i15blackfootwidening. Online participants can review identical project information and comment between May 12-26.

This stretch of interstate is reaching the end of its service life, and growing travel volumes have made it necessary to increase the capacity and improve safety and operations. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2028, although the timeline may change depending on the availability of funding.

Elements of the I-15 expansion are funded with Transportation Expansion and Congestion Mitigation (TECM) funds as part of Governor Little's Leading Idaho program. The program allows ITD to accelerate project timelines to address rapid growth and build critical infrastructure today that would otherwise take many years to fund and build.

Those who are interested in learning more are welcome to visit the project website at itd.idaho.gov/project/i15blackfootwidening, email [email protected] or call 208-252-5553.