Coming soon: Island Park’s first traffic light
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ISLAND PARK — A town stretching more than 30 miles along U.S. 20 and boasting the longest Main Street in America is about to get its first-ever traffic light.
According to Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) spokesperson Sky Buffat, Island Park’s first traffic signal will be installed this spring at the intersection of U.S. Highway 20 and Yale Kilgore Road in the Elk Creek area.
Concrete work and other preparations were completed last fall, paving the way for installation once materials arrive. The signal is expected to be operational by summer.
“When we started planning for the future outlook of the Island Park corridor several years ago, we listened as people asked for improvements that could be made now,” ITD Project Manager Gregg Bowman said. “This Elk Creek signal is one result of that public input and will greatly increase safe movements at this intersection.”
While Island Park has a year-round population of only a few hundred residents, traffic volumes increase dramatically during the summer tourism season, with thousands of visitors traveling the corridor each day.
The addition of the new light marks a significant change for the community, as traffic along U.S. 20 has historically flowed through town without stopping points.
“To prepare drivers, the signal will include advanced warning systems in both directions. Overhead flashing lights and roadside signs will be placed about 800 feet ahead of the intersection, alerting motorists when they will need to stop,” Buffat said.
RELATED: Change is afoot on Yale-Kilgore Road
In addition to the signal, ITD will add dedicated left-turn lanes at the intersection by restriping existing pavement on both U.S. 20 and Yale Kilgore Road. The signal’s timing will prioritize traffic on the highway, where the majority of vehicles travel.
Green lights for Yale Kilgore Road will be triggered based on traffic demand, with each phase expected to last about one minute. Officials say timing adjustments are common once a new signal is operational and can be fine-tuned based on traffic patterns.
“All components of the traffic signal are expected to be received and ready for installation in early May if all goes well,” Buffat said.
Installation is expected to take about two weeks. Traffic impacts should be minimal, with most work occurring off the roadway. However, drivers can expect reduced traffic to one lane in each direction for several days during construction.
“There will also be times that traffic in one direction will be held for approximately 10 to 15 minutes at a time as signal poles are being hoisted into the area and vehicles can’t safely travel underneath,” Buffat said.
Transportation officials intentionally scheduled the work ahead of the busy summer season.
“It’s very intentional that this work is occurring prior to Memorial Day,” Buffat said. “In areas with a huge recreational and tourist influx, we conduct work outside of the Memorial Day to Labor Day window whenever possible.”
Full funding for the project comes from the Idaho Transportation Board, which awarded the project based on safety needs.
The city of Ashton installed its first traffic signal in recent years as traffic volumes increased along the U.S. 20 corridor, marking a similar shift for a community that historically relied on stop signs and uninterrupted highway flow.
“People may not like this (Island Park) light at first. It takes some getting used to, just like Ashton’s first light did, but it’s worked out great.” Buffat said.
Once complete, the project will bring a new level of traffic control to a town where the highway has long served as a continuous, uninterrupted route through one of Idaho’s most unique communities.