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| The curb at the corner of Yellowstone and A Street |
Whether you're a driver, bicyclist or pedestrian, it's been hard to impossible not to notice the number of curb ramps being poured this summer in the city of Idaho Falls.
There is no single plan or grant behind all the activity, just a renewed focus on the part of Idaho Falls and the Idaho Department of Transportation, said Chris Frederickson, city public works director.
The Idaho Transportation Department is overlaying various state highways within the Idaho Falls city limits this summer, including:
- Broadway from Bellin Road to Yellowstone Highway
- Yellowstone Highway from Sunnyside Road to Lomax Avenue
- U.S. 20 from Saturn Avenue to Science Center Drive
This work includes new pedestrian ramps at various intersections and milling and overlaying the street section. Frederickson said it only made sense for the curbs improvements to be integrated into the projects, to bring access up to the standards of the Americans With Disabilities Act. Work has been going on seven days a week from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., but some of the work has taken place during the day, causing delays and lane closures.
On Channing Way, there is a new water line going in and new curb ramps being put in. On Thursday night, the City Council approved a $250,000 state-local agreement providing for more curb and sidewalk improvements, primarily on arterial and collector streets.
The city now maintains a road construction map on its Web site, which it updates every Monday.
