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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Eye On Boise

ITD board approves stimulus projects

The list is now final: The Idaho Transportation Board has approved $28 million in local highway projects to be targeted with federal economic stimulus funds, and $149.9 million in state highway projects, including the Dover Bridge, the Vista Interchange, and six other projects around the state. Plus, as directed by the stimulus bill, $5.9 million would go to an enhancement project, "hardscaping" at the 10-Mile Interchange. That adds up to $183.9 million - about $2 million more than the stimulus actually will send to Idaho for such road projects. That may mean that not all of the local projects get funded, or that the first ones in get the money; some of those still are being defined. The board also has approved $18.4 million in public transit projects. All of these recommendations still must go to Gov. Butch Otter, and then he'll make his proposals to the Legislature, which will set budgets - which Otter then signs into law.

The eight major state highway projects, which earlier had been estimated to cost $182 million on their own, now come in at $149.9 million. They are: Dover Bridge replacement, $36.8 million; US 95 Moscow Mountain Passing Lane in Latah County, $3.9 million; White Bird Grade to Chain-Up Area on US 95, $5.2 million; Vista Avenue interchange, $43.4 million; US 93 Twin Falls Alternate Route, $40.4 million; I-86 Chubbuck Interchange to Pocatello Creek Interchange, $11.3 million; US 20 Henry's Lake Flat Passing Lanes, $3.5 million; and SH 48 Rigby High School to Yellowstone Highway, $5.4 million.



Eye On Boise

News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.