A new interchange is planned to replace the Interstate 15/Rose Road Interchange near Blackfoot. (Doug Lindley/Idaho State Journal)

By Kendra Evensen

kevensen@journalnet.com

BLACKFOOT — Idaho Transportation Department officials say the new Interstate 15/Rose Road Interchange near Blackfoot will include a wider bridge, longer on- and off-ramps and more right-of-way space.

Officials unveiled the final design plans, most of which have been completed, during a public hearing at Blackfoot City Hall on Tuesday. They’ve been working on the project since 2013, and Adam Rush, public involvement coordinator for ITD’s Office of Communications, said they feel it’s important to keep the public up to date on their plans.

“The purpose of this hearing is to show the final design plans of the I-15/Rose Road Interchange and gather any public input or comments (to help) refine the project,” Rush said.

The planned interchange will replace the existing bridge, which dates back to the 1950s, in the area of I-15’s Exit 98. The new bridge will be much wider (54 feet compared with 28 feet) to better accommodate agricultural and commercial vehicles as well as private vehicles, Rush said. The off-ramp will also be about 200 feet longer than the existing one, and the on-ramp will be 900 feet longer, which should help improve safety in the area. There will also be more right-of-way space (47.3 acres compared with 44.5 acres) with the new interchange.

“The two Riverside Canal structures south of Rose Road will also be replaced with this project due to their load restrictions and the need to add a lane for the southbound on-ramp,” according to information provided at the public hearing, which added that I-15 crosses over the canal structures.

The project is estimated to cost approximately $11.1 million.

Officials plan to build half of the bridge at a time, leaving the current bridge operational until the first section of the new bridge can accommodate traffic. They say I-15 will operate in crossovers at times. The existing on-ramps will close for about a week as they are tied into the new ramps.

ITD officials hope to open bids for the project by October 2017 and start construction in early 2018.

Those who weren’t able to attend Tuesday’s public hearing can learn more about the project at http://bit.ly/2c5MVRO. While most of the design work is completed, people can still submit comments about the design and construction schedule by emailing them to adam.rush@itd.idaho.gov, faxing them to 208-334-8563 or mailing them to: Idaho Transportation Department, Attn: Adam Rush, 3311 W. State Street, Boise, ID, 83703.

“We encourage people to give input and comments,” Rush said.