08/20/08

The planning stages for a major road project on Highway 75 are expected to begin soon.

The Federal Highway Administration signed a 'record of decision' for the environmental impact statement to begin improvements on the Idaho 75 Timmerman to Ketchum project.

This completes an eight year study of the environmental and historical impact for the proposed highway improvements.

Now that the record of decision is signed the planning process should begin quickly.

This includes widening Idaho 75 to four travel lanes with a center turn lane between Bellevue and Ketchum -- plus additional turn lanes and traffic signals.

And the highway will be widened to three lanes between Timmerman and Bellevue.