The recently completed reconstruction of the Meridian Interchange, originally built in 1965, won the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Southern Idaho section award for Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement in a category for projects costing greater than $10 million.
In the $50.8 million project, ITD replaced the Meridian Interchange with a single-point urban interchange (SPUI), and improved Interstate 84 between Meridian and Five Mile roads, including widening the freeway to four lanes in each direction under the interchange. The work also added a third lane over the top on Meridian Road, and installed sidewalks and a bike lane.
“Completion of the Meridian Interchange would not have been possible without the close collaboration between the Idaho Transportation Department and its design and contracting partners, as well as many community stakeholders,” said Amy Schroeder, District 3 engineering manager and GARVEE manager.
“Improvements not only enhance safety and mobility through this heavily traveled Treasure Valley interstate corridor, but also future growth and transportation needs in southwest Idaho.”
Work began in April 2014, and the interchange opened to traffic late in 2015.
In 1965, approximately 15,000 vehicles traveled over, under, and on and off the interchange each day. Today, that number has increased to more than 133,000 vehicles, and is expected to continue to climb.
