Adam RollinsThe Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) has selected several roadway construction projects in Treasure Valley to receive additional funding from the state.
The funding comes from House Bill 25, which was passed last year to provide an annual $20 million diversion for the next three years to the Transportation Expansion and Congestion Mitigation (TECM) program. The bill also enables the department to inject another $1 billion into the state transportation system as part of its Transportation Investment Program (TIP).
The new allocation will allow the ITD to add four projects to the state’s draft TIP for design and construction. These projects include:
- Widening State Highway 16 from two to four lanes to increase capacity. The section from SH-44 to Beacon Light will also feature a median barrier and an overpass. Construction is slated to begin in 2027.
- Expanding road capacity along US-20/26 by adding two additional lanes in each direction between Middleton and Star. Additional work will install a continuous center turn lane. Construction is expected to begin in 2026.
- Widening SH-44 from three to five lanes from Star to SH-16. The project will include road resurfacing. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2027.
- Conducting an ongoing study prioritizing operational improvements for mobility along I-84.
The fund established through HB 25 allows the state to support projects that address and mitigate congestion along the transportation network. Projects approved by the ITD and the Idaho Transportation Board must mitigate traffic times, improve traffic flow and mitigate traffic congestion.
While the fund was recently established, the TECM Program has been in operation since 2017. The initiative helps accelerate critical improvements on corridors, enhancing the state transportation system’s safety and mobility. Since then, the TECM Program has supported essential modernization projects for Idaho’s transportation infrastructure, accelerating projects that would have otherwise taken decades to build.
The TECM Program has already identified 11 projects to receive funding, alongside two additional corridors that are not currently receiving financial support.
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