Late last week, we drove through the Idaho Highway 55 canyon between Smith’s Ferry and Round Valley. The Idaho Transportation recently started a two-year project to revamp a stretch of the road. Crews will widen the two lanes through the canyon and add shoulders.
The first phase of work includes removal blasting work on the rocky hillside. Crews shut down the road during a period each Monday-Thursday from 10am-2pm.
On the first weekend of the project, long delays of two hours were caused by faulty programming of an automated signal. An ITD spokesperson says human flaggers are now in place over the busy weekend times to better control traffic.
During the winter months, construction will stop and there shouldn’t be any delays.
Work will pick back up in the spring, and continue through late-fall of 2022.
Here are photos of our drive through the canyon northbound from Smith’s Ferry toward Cascade last Thursday.
Approaching the work zone from the south. Photo: Kara Jackson/Special to BoiseDev 
A set of two automated signals is only in use during less busy times, according to ITD. A large backup n the first weekend led to a change of using flaggers in key weekend times. Photo: Kara Jackson/Special to BoiseDev 
During our Thusday visit, flaggers controlled access to the site. Photo: Kara Jackson/Special to BoiseDev 
Once inside the workzone, the road quickly narrows to a single lane. Photo: Kara Jackson/Special to BoiseDev 
Rock has already been removed from the hillside and is being stored in the travel lane. Photo: Kara Jackson/Special to BoiseDev 
A backhoe is used to move removed debris. Photo: Kara Jackson/Special to BoiseDev 
In one area, a large net is in place to keep debris off the remaining travel lane. Photo: Kara Jackson/Special to BoiseDev 
Photo: Kara Jackson/Special to BoiseDev
