ADA COUNTY, Idaho — Trying to play catch with Ada County's explosive growth is something the planners at the Ada County Highway District have gotten accustomed to. And now that A.C.H.D. has put another major road project behind them, it's time to look forward to the next couple of projects in the Treasure Valley.
The massive Ten Mile road project is now officially done, connecting I-84 with Chinden Boulevard. What's left behind is more than a four lane north south artery. Ryan Head, the county's planning supervisor says, "it's not just cars, you have new sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, bike lanes that help everyone move around and connect neighborhoods, not just people traveling long distances in their cars."
Ryan Head says now a lot of their attention is pointed to the other side of the freeway. " A lot of it is south of I-84, you have Eagle to Amity and Victory, as well as the Amity Eagle intersection that's going in the Maple Grove to Victory to Overland, Ten Mile and Amity, and the Gowen road bridge west of the I-84, these are all big changes that are coming."
With all these different projects on the planning board for today, how do they prioritize?
"Great question, when you're talking about major road improvements we look at safety, crash histories as well as congestion so we look to see where we can get the best benefit for the public."
As long as there is congestion through growth, there will be the need for more roads thorough planning.
