STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK
Commuters, rejoice!
At least two pieces of road construction season in the Wood River Valley seem to be shaping up as Ketchum’s Main Street Project and Bellevue’s Main Street Repaving Project are coming to an end. But get ready for more road work next summer!
KETCHUM’S MAIN STREET PROJECT
Construction on the Main Street project between 4th and 6th Street in Ketchum is ahead of schedule with paving beginning on Friday to be followed by paint striping.
The road is on track to be fully opened by July 3 in time for the Fourth of July weekend, said City Spokesperson Lisa Enourato. That said, a southbound lane closure will remain in place after the holiday to allow crews to complete remaining sidewalk work. Full reopening is expected by July 18.
CHIP SEALING PARKING LOTS
The lots at 1st & Washington streets and at Leadville Street will be closed Monday, June 23, as Sunseal begins chip sealing and crack filling. Paint striping will be completed on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 24 and 25, once surfaces are dry. Workers hope they can reopen on them on Thursday, June 26.
TRAIL CREEK BRIDGE
Work on the Trail Creek Bridge will commence on Sunday, June 22, as traffic control is set up to allow one-way northbound traffic across the bridge into Ketchum. Southbound traffic will be directed to the 2nd Avenue detour route.
Initial bridge work begins on Monday, June 23, with a focus on the bridge piles. It will last two weeks, after which the bridge will reopen to two-way traffic.
Work will resume on Aug. 1 with northbound-only traffic in place through mid-November. Southbound traffic will again be directed to the 2nd Avenue detour route with the work hopefully being done in time for the ski season.
“We appreciate that the volume of work may feel overwhelming, especially during a busy season. But each project is vital, addressing aging infrastructure, preserving your roadways, and improving long-term access and safety,” said Lisa Enourato. “All projects have been planned around minimizing disruption, listening to community feedback, and working swiftly within the constraints of weather and contractor availability.
BELLEVUE’S MAIN STREET PROJECT
Bellevue residents are rejoicing over repaving work that’s actually a week ahead of schedule. The highway running through Bellevue is now as smooth as a baby’s behind—no more lumps and bumps.
BRACE YOURSELF FOR NEXT YEAR
The Idaho Transportation Department reported this past week that construction is expected to start in 2026 on Highway 75 from McKercher Boulevard on Hailey’s north side to Broadway Run near St. Luke’s hospital just south of Ketchum.
That means the construction in that area will start one year earlier than planned. And it will come as the Idaho Transportation Department is working on the second part of the Elkhorn Road to Broadway Run Street Project from May to October 2026.
Funding for the mid-valley project comes from the Idaho Legislature’s House Bill 25 passed this last session. It provides an additional $20 million a year to the Transportation Expansion and Congestion Mitigation Fund for the next three years. That allows the Idaho Department of Transportation to invest an extra $1 billion into the Idaho transportation system.
The McKercher Boulevard to Broadway Run Project will widen Highway 75 to two lanes in each direction. There will be a continuous center turn lane, and pedestrian/transit improvements, as well.
The Wood River Valley project was identified by staff as a high-priority that will address congestion. Other projects falling into that category include the widening of I-84 from Jerome to Twin Falls and reconstruction of the Burley and Heyburn Interchanges.