POCATELLO — The purchase of property flanking the intersection of Jefferson Avenue and Pocatello Creek Road was approved by the Pocatello City Council on Thursday night. Although the exact price of the 1.35 acres that was once home to a gas station is still being negotiated, city attorney Dean Tranmer said it will be about $600,000.

    The acreage is north of Tendoy Elementary School across Jefferson Avenue from the Social Security complex and Maverik store.

    Tranmer said the Idaho Department of Transportation authorized the purchase of the property as a “protective buy” because all alternative plans for re-engineering the busy intersection involve using that space.

    The intersection is where traffic comes out of major residential areas in the Highland Area of Pocatello from the east on Pocatello Creek Road and traffic comes up from the west off Yellowstone Avenue on E. Alameda Road. Jefferson Avenue ends at the intersection and turns into Hiline Road as it continues north. Hiline provides an east side link between Pocatello and Chubbuck.

    Tranmer said the state has identified the busy intersection as one of the most dangerous in Idaho based on accident numbers.

    Redesign and construction of the intersection will be funded mostly with federal and state highway money with construction slated to begin sometime in 2015.

    Before any construction begins, final plans have to be approved by both the city and Idaho Department of Transportation with public hearing held.