BOISE, Idaho — Drivers in the Treasure Valley should brace for another round of delays, detours, and plenty of construction noise as work progresses on the next phase of the Idaho 16 extension project.
The $475 million freeway expansion — the region’s first new elevated highway in more than four decades — aims to ease congestion caused by rapid population growth and development stretching from Boise through Canyon County. But the progress comes with disruptions that will continue well into next week and likely beyond.
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Starting Friday evening, Nov. 7, the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) will close Idaho 16 in both directions between Idaho 44 (State Street) and U.S. 20/26 (Chinden Boulevard) to install a massive box culvert for future interchange construction.
The stretch — roughly 2 miles crossing the Boise River in Star — will remain closed through early Monday morning, Nov. 10. Drivers who normally rely on the route for a fast north-south connection will have to reroute to Star Road or Linder Road.
The drainage culvert being installed will measure 495 feet long, which ITD notes is longer than a football field, and construction will be “very NOISY,” according to the project page. It is part of a new partial cloverleaf interchange expected to cost $55 million and replace risky left-turn movements currently at the State Street intersection.
“This is a challenging work zone, and we are actively looking at ways to improve traffic flow through the area,” said Styles Salek, ITD design and construction engineer.
The interchange — and the entire corridor between State Street and Interstate 84 — is planned to open in 2027.
Work continues farther south near the Meridian–Nampa border this weekend.
Beginning Saturday evening, Nov. 8, Franklin Road will be closed each night from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. between Star and McDermott roads. Drivers traveling east or west will need to detour using Cherry Lane.
Closures here will continue intermittently through the fall and winter as crews build another interchange to improve access between Franklin Road, Idaho 16, and I-84. That improvement is also expected to be complete by 2027.
Treasure Valley traffic has surged as farmland gives way to new subdivisions and commercial growth. Local highways and I-84 reached capacity again shortly after recent widening projects were completed.
Officials say Idaho 16 is essential to distributing traffic more evenly and providing an alternative route to the interstate. But the size and complexity of the project — elevated viaducts, river crossings, and multiple interchange builds — means road disruptions will continue to test driver patience.
✅ Weekend highway shutdowns
✅ Nighttime surface street closures
✅ Increased truck activity and heavy equipment
✅ Loud construction during culvert installation
✅ Long-term detours and slowdowns near the corridor
No delays to the construction timeline have been announced.
Originally reported by Idaho States Man.
