In regard to the articles about the funding and improvements to state Highway 75 from Timmerman to Ketchum, the Idaho Transportation Department wants to emphasize and restate a couple of items from those news stories.
On Aug. 12, the Idaho Mountain Express reported that the future improvements to Highway 75 would be "shelved" due to anticipated reduced funding through the Federal Highway Administration. This anticipated reduction in federal funding for fiscal 2012 does not create a new situation where the Highway 75 projects were suddenly removed from the construction program.
The status is that all major roadway expansion projects throughout the state have been placed on hold indefinitely due to funding shortfalls. These projects will continue to wait for additional funding before construction can be scheduled. The exceptions to this scenario are projects funded with Federal discretionary funds, GARVEE bonds in the Treasure Valley and Coeur d'Alene area and those constructed by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Since completing the final environmental impact statement in 2008, ITD has been working to design the portion of Highway 75 from Timber Way to the Big Wood River bridge, the Boulder Flats environmental mitigation site and the Big Wood River bridge and roadway south of Elkhorn Road. Construction of the Timber Way and Boulder Flats projects is fully funded and will take place over the next few years. This work is being completed with federal discretionary funds and cannot be spent any other place.
As stated in both articles, there are seven projects—including the Big Wood River bridge and roadwork south of Elkhorn Road—that will remain incomplete and awaiting further funding to proceed forward. Currently, work is going forward to complete final design and purchase right-of-way for the Timber Way to Big Wood River bridge project. Design is ongoing for the mitigation site.
Devin Rigby
District engineer
Idaho Transportation Department
