STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

Break out Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus.”

Liberation Day is in sight.

The months-long construction widening State Highway 75 between Elkhorn and Broadway Run is expected to pause Saturday as winter weather sets set in.

All four lanes—two lanes in each direction—up to Serenade Lane will be open to traffic through the winter ski season.

Crews have finished putting down la temporary pavement to allow those lanes to be available. But work on the Trail Creek Bridge will continue with more temporary paving so the northbound lane can be placed.

It can’t come soon enough for those who were stuck in traffic for what seemed like forever Thursday morning.

But enjoy the pause while you can.

Crews are expected to resume work on Trail Creek Bridge in February as they widen Highway 75 to River Street. It is currently planned to be one lane each direction with a bike lane in each direction, However, there is some work being done to change that.

Construction crews are slated to start on the highway south of Trail Creek Bridge in April 2026, said project Manager Tom Logan.

Temporary pavement will be replaced next spring when crews return.

The project had been slated to start up again in May and last through October in 2026. But ITD is now saying it may not be finished until 2027 because department officials are anticipating delays due to utilities not being moved and other circumstances that were out of ITD’s control, said Courtney Wagner, pubic information officer for ITD.

“We are still hoping we can get it completed in 2026, but we are saying 2027 because we are unsure how big of a delay issues this year could cause,” she said.

ITD experienced delays this year due to inclement weather and utility relocations being delayed. Idaho Power had to pause its utility work because the federal government abruptly demanded it find American-made components for its work

“We appreciate the public’s patience as we work through utility relocation, weather and other issues,” Logan said. “Our goal is to make up for lost time and continue progress as soon as construction resumes next year.”

Wagner said that road construction slated for Highway 75 from Roberta McKercher Boulevard northward is still slated to start in 2026. But it might be delayed. There is no official start date for the project yet.

As for the orange barrels that have had many motorists seeing red all summer long?

The contractors will pick them up, taking them to their next projects.

“There are a ton!” said Wagner. “I wish I knew how many each contractor has and how big of a storage facility is needed for those things!”