The Idaho Transportation Board today voted to allocate an additional $86 million to widen I-84 from Franklin Road in Nampa into the city of Caldwell, on top of $150 million in GARVEE bonds already allocated to the I-84 Nampa-Caldwell corridor and additional state and federal funds dedicated in October; the total comes to $330 million.

 “This decision shows the commitment of the board to address a high-priority need in the state,” said Jerry Whitehead, ITD board chair. “Improving the interstate will enhance safety on our roads and benefit the regional economy by moving goods and people more efficiently.”

Previously, the board had approved $64 million in GARVEE bonds for highway improvements in North Idaho; today’s decision allocates the last of the $300 million in bonds that the Legislature approved during its 2017 session.

Also at today’s meeting, the ITD board approved spending $6 million from state funds for preliminary engineering services on Idaho Highway 16, an initial step toward a long-term goal of connecting that highway to I-84.