Summer road improvements aren’t anything new, but Canyon County municipalities are trying to accommodate new cars on the road — a result of significant and continuous population growth.
In its Communities in Motion 2050 report, the Community Planning Association of Southwest Idaho, COMPASS, predicted that Canyon County’s population will grow 44% by 2050. Ada County was projected to grow 34%. In total, this would add a quarter million people to the Treasure Valley.
According to COMPASS’ report, Caldwell is projected to grow by 68%, from its current population of approximately 66,000, to 111,190. Nampa is expected to grow by 51%, from a population of 111,000 to 168,140.
Unlike Ada County where one entity, the Ada County Highway District, manages the roads, Canyon’s management is a shared effort.
Canyon County cities manage their most-used roads, while local highway districts cover the rural outskirts of cities. Left to address major paths of travel is the Idaho Transportation Department.
Nampa’s Director of Transportation Crystal Craig said ACHD’s setup is not common and Ada is the only county in Idaho that consolidates its transportation like this.
Since Boise and Meridian don’t manage their own roads, this leaves Nampa as the largest full-service city in Idaho, according to Craig.
The city of Nampa is responsible for roads once utilities reach the area.
Craig said the city benefits from the ease of communication. Those in charge of Nampa’s transportation and land use plans all work in one building.
Craig said that funding can be a challenge as property taxes aren’t enough to cover the needs of the growing population.
According to Craig, Nampa roadway improvements result in a funding gap of of $17 million which has to be filled by grants and other alternative funding. This raises a challenge when it comes to countering traffic congestion.
“Most agencies are reactive agencies,” she said. “We don't have enough money to be proactive and build the road if it's not going to be used.”
Craig said that the city’s continual transportation goal is to improve traffic on a major and minor arterial 10% annually. Based on Nampa’s Spring 2023 community survey , residents’ top concern was congestion and transportation issues.
This summer, Nampa will be seeing three major projects:
Midland and Iowa Avenue
A roundabout is being constructed at the Midland and Iowa intersection, replacing the previous all-way stop. The intersection is closed as construction continues throughout the summer, scheduled to reopen by Aug. 17.
Franklin Boulevard and Karcher Road
Construction at the intersection is ongoing for the addition of a roundabout. Lane restrictions, partial closures and full closures will occur intermittently. Drivers are encouraged to detour via Northside Boulevard until construction concludes in November.
This project is funded by impact fees and a grant from ITD. Craig said the intersection is on a designated freight route.
Franklin Road
Nampa is taking part in the ITD’s State Highway 16 project by widening Franklin between Star and McDermott roads. The Highway 16 project expands on the highway to create a north-south route that connects to Interstate 84.
Caldwell also has the following projects this summer:
Haystack Way and Saddle Avenue
An ongoing road closure on Haystack and Saddle between Highway 20-26 and Muller Drive is scheduled to end on July 26.
The project is part of ITD's US 20-26 Widening Project.
Ustick Road
A section of Ustick will be closed between Florida and Lake avenues as improvements are made to the Wilson Drain culvert from July 15-19.
Middleton Road and Skyway Street
Construction is beginning at the intersection of Middleton and Skyway to add a roundabout and widen the road. Lane closures and reduced speed limits will be taking place throughout July. From late July through October, the intersection will be closed.
ON THE OUTSKIRTS
Nampa Highway District No. 1 is responsible for the roads surrounding Nampa’s city limits. The district’s jurisdiction covers rural areas, spanning south of Nampa and below Lake Lowell.
District Director Nick Lehman explained that Canyon County’s road maintenance is different from the Ada County Highway District which covers the majority of the county.
In recent years, Lehman said the city of Nampa’s domain has expanded, with urbanization and roads on the outskirts of the city being used more often. These busier areas are taken over by the city for management, particularly in northern Nampa.
“We don't have any pedestrian facilities within our roadways,” Lehman explained. “Usually, as that city develops … the cities are taking those on, and then those paths are being developed, with those subdivisions, with those developments.”
As traffic has worsened in the city, Lehman said the district has seen greater use of alternative routes, with drivers avoiding congestion.
Most summers the district rebuilds eight miles of road. According to Lehman, this summer the district is working on 11 miles.
Lehman said the district is also taking part in the ITD’s Highway 16 project. The highway district will conduct a study on Robinson Road, south of the interchange, and consider what adjustments need to be made with possible congestion.
WIDENING HIGHWAY 20-26
While the Highway 16 project is in its early stages, the ITD’s US 20-26 Widening Project will be reaching its conclusion as early as 2025 according to ITD Public Information Officer Sophia Miraglio.
The project spans westward from Eagle Road and has been ongoing for nearly a decade. Miragilo said its main purpose is to increase capacity by expanding the northern road.
The majority of the highway will be four lanes wide, spanning from Eagle Road to Middleton Road. The portion between Middleton and I-84 will be expanded to six lanes and will be the final phase of the project.
“In addition to widening there will also be work on the local roads that will widen the intersection, add stop lights to major intersections, and add turn pockets for the local streets onto US-20/26,” Miraglio wrote in an email.
ITD is in the process of designing the last portion and obtaining necessary land. The overall project is estimated to cost approximately $392 million by its completion, though designs for the last stretch are still to be finalized.
“It's no secret, this area continues to grow. It's seeing massive development,” Miraglio said. “By adding this capacity, we're making this corridor safer.”
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