STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK
Are you one of those who loves to complain that you spend half your life waiting at the stop light at Main and Sun Valley roads?
Do you fret about the gaping holes on Main Street and Highway 75 that somehow never got patched before winter?
Now you have something new to mull over!
The Idaho Transportation Department is proposing a roundabout at Serenade Lane where drivers turn off Main Street to head to Bald Mountain.
ITD spokesperson Nathan Jerke will make a presentation about the project to the Ketchum City Council on Tuesday, Jan. 18.
The ITD plans to complete its preliminary design, continue environmental re-evaluation and host a community input session in 2022. It would, If it proceeds with the plan, acquire a right-of-way and complete the final design in 2023. It would begin construction, based on funding, in the fall of 2025.
Pedestrians will probably rejoice to learn that ITD is considering a sidewalk expansion that will allow pedestrian access from the Gem Street area into town. Also being considered is a proposal to reduce the speed limit from 45 miles per hour to 35 miles per hour along Highway 75 south of Elkhorn Road.
For more information, visit itdprojects.org/Idaho-75-elkhorn-road. Questions? Call Jerke at 208-886-7809. Or email him at Nathan.jerke@itd.idaho.gov
Meanwhile, the City of Ketchum is holding an Open House at City Hall on Wednesday and Thursday, Jan. 19-20, to allow people to learn about plans for pedestrian and ADA access improvements on Sun Valley Road. People may drop in from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday and from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Thursday.