Construction of Thornton Interchange to begin in March - East Idaho News
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Construction of Thornton Interchange to begin in March

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Thorton Interchange
The Thornton Interchange has been the site of some 80 accidents since 2010. Three fatalities occurred at the intersection in 2015. Photo courtesy Rexburg Standard Journal.

The following is a press release from the the Idaho Department of Transportation.

RIGBY – Construction of the Thornton Interchange (overpass) on U.S. Highway 20 north of Thornton will begin in March. The project is scheduled for completion in October.

When construction starts, the contractor will close 4985 South (Thornton intersection) on each side of U.S. 20 and River Bridge Road (Archer exit) just north of the Snake River.

Crews also will close the median at 3800 South (Burton Road), eliminating left turns at this intersection. Crews will permanently close the local road in October.

4300 West (Bear World Drive) will remain open throughout the construction project and then be permanently closed in October.

Eliminating intersections and investing in interchanges for busy state highways improves road safety, because interchanges have fewer conflict points, as they separate turning movements from through traffic.

Western Construction Inc., of Boise, is the contractor for the $11.2 million project, which will elevate U.S. 20 to pass over 4700 South and will realign this county road north of its current location.

At the conclusion of the interchange project, all direct accesses to U.S. 20 between Lorenzo and Rexburg will be closed. In addition to 4985 South and River Bridge Road, these accesses include Bear World Drive, field turnoffs, and 3800 South. Motorists thereafter will access areas east and west of U.S. 20 via the new Thornton Interchange (Exit 328).

Total cost of the new interchange, including land acquisition, design, construction and landscaping, will be nearly $20 million. The new interchange will include north and south entrances and exits to improve entrance onto and exit from both U.S. 20 and 4700 South.

The Idaho Transportation Department is responsible for all highways on the State Highway System – interstates, state highways and U.S. routes. All other roads are under the jurisdiction of the local, city or county entity.

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