If and when the planning and approval process is wrapped up and tens of millions of dollars can be found, state Highway 75 between Ketchum and the intersection with U.S. Highway 20 south of Bellevue will be a far safer, far more easily traveled roadway for thousands of drivers.
Meanwhile, to be blunt, that stretch of road can be a killer.
Literally.
New statistics from the Idaho Transportation Department are chilling: 14 deaths and 215 injuries involved in 396 traffic accidents between 2004 and 2008.
The riskiest area for drivers between Hailey and Ketchum is the heavily trafficked two-mile stretch between West Meadow Drive and Buttercup Road. It accounted for 21 percent of all Blaine County fatalities (3), 11 percent of all injuries during the period (24), and 11 percent of all accidents (42) in the five-year period.
Virtually all accidents are avoidable. Driver inattention and carelessness usually are causes. Rear-end collisions (161), for example, could have been avoided had drivers not followed so closely and allowed time to brake.
The ITD's statistics provide ample alerts for drivers of the dangers lurking on Highway 75.
Alert, cautious, prudent driving within the speed limit and awareness of what other drivers are doing are easily understood rules of the road that responsible drivers follow in order to avoid accidents.
Increased traffic in the Ketchum-Hailey corridor will make it even more dangerous until the road is widened and improved.
Meanwhile, ITD has provided forewarning. Wise drivers will be forearmed.