How you drive on Hitt Road near Target could soon change
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IDAHO FALLS – The option to reconfigure traffic signal design at the Hitt Road and 25th Street Intersection, located just south of the Target shopping center, was approved Monday during the Idaho Falls City Council work session.
“It’s always been problematic when we’ve evaluated placing a traffic signal at the main entrance into the Target parking lot,” explains Idaho Falls Public Works Director, Chris Fredericksen. “When you have traffic signals spaced too close together, they don’t function property, so we’ve always been reluctant to place a signal there.”
The proposed solution is to have a west-bound, exit-only lane at the 25th Street and Hitt Road intersection. The reconfiguration would allow traffic to go straight, turn right and turn left out of the Target shopping center, as well as other stores located in the Ammon Town Center.
In April 2014, Ammon and Idaho Falls Mayors and City Council members met to discuss options for three intersections along Hitt Road – 17th Street, 25th Street and Sunnyside Road. Council subcommittees were then formed to address each of the intersections.
The Hitt Road and 25th Street council subcommittee included Ammon’s Byron Wiscombe and Brad Christensen, and Idaho Falls’ Barbara Ehardt and Dee Whittier. Councilman Whittier passed away earlier this year. In addition, the two council presidents, Idaho Falls’ Mike Lehto and Ammon’s Brian Powell have coordinated and been in communication with the subcommittees throughout the evaluation process.
“Our cities made great progress with the Hitt Road widening and the Hitt/Sunnyside intersection expansion. This project is yet another joint effort to improve both safety and address traffic flow on Hitt Road,” says Idaho Falls Mayor, Rebecca Casper. “There is great willingness between the two cities to make the improvements happen in advance of the busy shopping season,” adds Casper.
“The Target intersection has been a frustration for many years. I give an immense amount of credit to Councilmembers Christensen, Wiscombe, Ehardt and Whittier for working tirelessly to negotiate a solution that all parties could agree on. The public has waited long enough for better, safer movement in and out of Ammon Town Center,” states Ammon Mayor, Dana Kirkham.
The estimated cost is anticipated to be under $200K. Using the same format adopted for the Hitt Road and Sunnyside joint venture, the two cities will sign a Joint Powers Agreement stipulating that the city of Idaho Falls would pay 50% of the cost for the intersection and approach improvements within the public right-of-way, while the city of Ammon would pay the other 50%. Ammon would also be responsible to design and build the private access road through Target’s property.
Click here for a list of city of Idaho Falls construction projects.