Pocatello's Center Street underpass to reopen Sunday

POCATELLO — After months of inactivity following delays in the construction review process with Union Pacific Railroad, the Center Street underpass in Pocatello is expected to reopen this Sunday.

Pocatello spokesperson Marlise Irby-Facer says the underpass is being repaved on Thursday and Friday and the expectation is that the major thoroughfare into Historic Downtown Pocatello will reopen Sunday after traffic lines are painted on the roadway.

The underpass has been closed since February for a renovation project that included replacing a 12-inch cast iron pipe installed in 1934, replacing the retaining walls on the east and west sides of the underpass, and renovating sidewalks and handrails.

The project also called for the addition of a stormwater mechanical building and a bridge on the west side of the underpass that would allow pedestrians to cross West Center Street from north to west.

Initially, the project was estimated to be completed this month. For months, however, east-side downtown businesses have struggled with a decrease in profits and potential foot traffic.

The once-active Center Street underpass has languished in an incomplete state, with one pedestrian walkway boarded up and the other littered with trash.

When the underpass reopens this weekend, the north pedestrian tunnel as well as the eastbound and westbound traffic lanes will all be accessible. The pedestrian tunnel to the south will remain closed.

Much of the funding for the renovation project, which has been placed on a temporary pause, was secured by Congressman Mike Simpson. The lawmaker assisted Pocatello in obtaining appropriations of $5.7 million to update the underpass. An additional $2.1 million in funding came from the Surface Transportation Block Grant program through the Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Idaho Transportation Department.

Pocatello’s portion of the project is a 7.34 percent match or about $572,000 of the total project cost.

Pocatello has been working with the Idaho Transportation Department, Local Highway Technical Assistance Council, and several consultants on this project. Jacobs Engineering designed the underpass renovations and Cannon Builders were awarded the project’s construction contract.