New traffic signal to be turned on at Banks Lowman Road intersection in Idaho

After years of public pressure, Idaho Transportation Department crews will activate a new, interim traffic signal next week at the intersection of Idaho Highway 55 and the Banks Lowman Road, ITD officials announced Friday.

Idaho Highway 55 connects the state’s population center in the Treasure Valley to central and north Idaho. 

Along one stretch, the highway follows the Payette River from the town of Horseshoe Bend up to Cascade and beyond.

But during busy summer weekends, turning traffic backs up on the Banks Lowman Road, forcing drivers to wait extended periods of time to turn left onto Idaho Highway 55 and return to the Treasure Valley.

Idaho Transportation Department officials said the new, interim traffic signal will provide safer, more predictable turning options for drivers during busy times.

“The new signal will help mobility and safety at this historically busy summer SH-55 river access intersection,” Dan McElhinney, ITD chief deputy and chief operations officer, said in a written statement. “This signal will provide a turning solution for those drivers on Banks Lowman Road, which will help reduce long lines and delays.”

As of Friday, crews were finishing installing the traffic signal poles and making final preparations to activate the traffic signal, ITD officials said.

Transportation officials said the new traffic signal was based on a study and public feedback. 

In addition to activating the new interim traffic signal, Idaho Transportation Department officials are working on a long-term intersection widening project to meet the growing traffic throughout the region and along the river.

In the past, traffic got so bad at the Bank Lowman Road intersection on summer weekends that the Idaho Transportation Department deployed flaggers to manually direct traffic.