When it opened in 2006, the Interstate 84 interchange with State Highway 55 (Karcher Road) and Midland Boulevard spurred development on the northeast side of I-84. However, the development has now created a traffic bottleneck and safety issues, according to the Community Planning Association.
“In fact, the intersection of Exit Ramp 33B and Midland Boulevard has the third highest rate of accidents among unsignalized intersections in ITD’s District 3 (southwest Idaho), said COMPASS spokesperson Amy Luft.
To deal with these issues, the City of Nampa and the Idaho Transportation Department are proposing to fund a project to change the I-84/Karcher Road interchange and provide a second southbound through-lane on Midland Boulevard.
This project is one on a list of unfunded projects in “Communities in Motion 2040,” the regional long-range transportation plan for Ada and Canyon Counties. The proposed amendment would remove the project from the list of unfunded needs and place it on a list of funded projects, with an estimated cost of $2,590,000. Construction is proposed for fiscal year 2017.
“In order for this project to move forward, ‘Communities in Motion 2040’ must be amended to show funding for this project. COMPASS is seeking public comment on this proposed amendment through Monday, May 23rd,” Luft said.
Comments may be submitted to litkonen@compassidaho.org or by mail to COMPASS, 700 NE 2nd Street, Suite 200, Meridian, ID, 83642.
Additional information on the project is available by following the link under “Hot Topics” at www.compassidaho.org.
