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West Blackfoot: Transportation Improvement Projects West Bridge Street Bridge I SH 39 Center Turn Lane & Collins Siding Rd Intersection Two projects have been identified in west Blackfoot to improve safety and accommodate growth. The City of Blackfoot, the Local Highway Technical Assistance Council (LHTAC), and the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) have partnered to develop these improvements to the West Bridge Street (Collins Siding Road) Bridge and State Highway 39/Hoff Road (SH 39), between Thomas Road (S 500 W) and Collins Siding, in an effort to increase safety, maximize efficiency, reduce cost, and provide the best options to the travelling public. The City has hired J-U-B ENGINEERS to assist with determining the best solutions for these improvements. West Bridge Street Bridge Replacement The bridge over the Snake River on West Bridge Street near SH 39 has reached its design life and is due to be replaced. The bridge, constructed in 1936, is inspected and reviewed by the ITD Bridge Inspectors annually and has been recommended for replacement. The current bridge restricts the weight and dimensions of loads, requiring many detours for area industry. The project team will be working to provide the best options for the community and traveling public. State Highway 39, Thomas to Collins Siding Road SH 39 from approximately Thomas to Collins Siding Road (1.2 miles) will be widened with a continuous center turn lane to accommodate increasing traffic volumes. When ITD designed this section of SH 39 decades ago, they planned for a future widening by purchasing adequate right-of-way. This will allow the project to proceed with very little, if any, impacts to private property. The intersection of SH 39 and Collins Siding is also seeing increased commercial and agricultural traffic volumes, requiring improvements for both safety and capacity. Traffic will be studied and alternatives for the intersection will be analyzed. Possible future impacts to the intersection resulting from the replacement of the West Bridge Street Bridge will also be considered. F e b r u a r y 2 0 2 1 ---PAGE BREAK--- Schedule* The project team will be developing environmental evaluations taking into consideration public comments/input and environmental aspects such as wetlands, biology, cultural, groundwater, and other elements for both projects. This first phase, beginning in early 2021 and continuing to summer, will include early conceptual designs, gathering public input, baseline survey and environmental information as key inputs that will inform each project’s alternatives. The next phase, estimated to begin in early Summer 2021, will include more detailed environmental documentation and design development as the projects progress towards a preferred design selection. Construction on these projects is currently scheduled for 2026. Conduct Public Outreach Develop Conceptual Designs Gather Baseline Survey, Traffic & Environmental Information W I N T E R S P R I N G S U M M E R F A L L 2 0 2 1 Begin Detailed Environmental Documentation & Design Work on Preferred Design Continue Public Outreach *Schedule is subject to change F e b r u a r y 2 0 2 1 Public Involvement The Langdon Group (TLG), a J-U-B company, will lead public involvement efforts through the early stages of these projects. Working with the local community and traveling public to receive input, gather data and identify any issues or concerns is critical to the success of this project. TLG will gather public comments and keep the public up-to- date on the projects developments. Please contact Bryant Kuechle (TLG) at [PHONE REDACTED] or [EMAIL REDACTED] if you have questions or comments, or to request to receive updates of future public involvement opportunities.