Friday, August 5, 2005

$22.8 million earmarked for Highway 75

Construction could start in 2007


By PAT MURPHY
Express Staff Writer

The planned improvement and widening of state Highway 75 from Ketchum southward to Timmerman Hill has been allocated $22.8 million in the new federal transportation authorization bill that appropriated a total of $276 million for Idaho projects.

However, actual construction work on the 27-mile stretch of Highway 75 probably won't begin until well into 2007, according to Devon Rigby, Idaho Transportation Department district engineer for District 4.

An environmental impact statement for the project is working its way through the required review process.

Rigby said no decision has been made which section of the highway would be the first to be rebuilt. He said design work and purchasing of rights of way lie ahead.

"We anticipate we'll get consultants on board and challenge them to an aggressive schedule," Rigby said.

One section that initially involved fewer obstacles is between Bellevue and Hailey. However, that leg of the highway parallels Friedman Memorial Airport, which currently is part of a site review process to decide whether and where a new airport should be built, or if Friedman should be modified and expanded.

One such scenario would force relocation of Highway 75 eastward to accommodate wider separation of taxiways from the airport's runway.

Rigby said highway reconstruction couldn't begin until airport issues are resolved.




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