STATE HIGHWAY 55 CORRIDOR STUDY
PURPOSE
The purpose of this project is to evaluate the corridor to see what upgrades and projects are needed to improve the highway corridor. Once completed this study will be used to plan projects for dealing with the transportation needs of the corridor.
VISIONS FOR SH-55
Ultimately this road would best as a divided roadway with either landscaped medians or concrete barrier restraints as necessary. The roadway design features should also include high speed left and right turn lanes at intersections to allow traffic to slow down without blocking the thru lanes. Since this roadway is not likely to be upgraded to freeway status a landscaped corridor would better suit this highway, with landscaping in key areas along the corridor.
Suggested Improvements
- Upgrade and widen the entire length of the highway from US95 south junction near Marsing to I-84 to at least 4 travel lanes with a landscaped median or continuous turn lane.
- the turns east of Marsing should be redesigned to allow for a average 70th percentile speed of 70 mph so that the design speed of the rural stretch can be 65 mph, and 45-55 mph for the urban sections.
- Upgrade Eagle Road to an expressway with urban style overpasses. This project while costly would alleviate traffic and segregate it into through and local traffic. thereby reducing the traffic tie-ups caused by turning traffic accessing the marketplaces located along the corridor. A Minimal footprint design is needed here using depressed roadways and viaducts to move traffic efficiently.
- Straighten sharp turns located along the Payette River canyon and add additional passing lanes.
- Provide additional safety for river access points for rafting and recreation sites along the highway. Obstrutions and slow moving traffic caused by the recreational activities will contribute to accidents and fatalities. Pedestrian accesses should be clearly marked and bridges built where possible to separate pedestrian and vehicle activity.
- Post changable speed limit signs along the corridor from McCall south to Eagle to lower seed limits during extreme conditions. Speed limits can be remotely lowered from the normal 55 mph depending upon conditions.
Back to Top
return to the Project Page
Updated 12/30/2010