BOISE — The Idaho Transportation Department says it is exploring several possible solutions to congestion at Highway 55 and the Banks-Lowman Road, but we won't see any of them in the immediate future.
In an article called "The Sunday Backup," posted on its own website, ITD acknowledges that many people have called and written to the department about congestion and safety concerns regarding the Highway 55/Banks-Lowman intersection.
The most popular suggestion: putting in a traffic signal.
Others include a roundabout or adding a third lane on Idaho 55.
For each of those three suggestions, ITD says there are trade-offs. A traffic signal at the intersection would force free-flowing traffic on Highway 55 to stop and lead to backups.
And the presence of a one-lane bridge to the boat landing would complicate the traffic signal and the roundabout options.
As for a third lane, ITD says that would require a new bridge and cutting into the mountainside near the Banks-Lowman Road to accommodate the extra lane.
Replacing the Highway 55 bridge is not in ITD's 7-year plans. And any long-term fix would cost millions of dollars.
ITD says despite concerns about safety at Highway 55 and the Banks-Lowman Road, the area does not rank high in terms of safety or congestion concerns compared to other state roadways, such as Karcher Road in Nampa, Highway 20-26 through Meridian, or Highway 44 west of Eagle.
In the meantime, ITD says flaggers will be posted at Highway 55 and the Banks-Lowman Road on busy holiday weekends, and the department will continue to explore other alternatives.