What is it?
The Western Route Express Way is a future route through the southern and western portions of the Treasure Valley to provide traffic an easy and efficient way to get through and out of the valley without first having to travel north through congested urban streets to get to I-84.
Where will it be located?
The route will run through the jurisdictional areas of Canyon Highway District No. 4, Notus-Parma Highway District No. 2, Nampa Highway District No. 1, and Ada County Highway District.
So far, only Nampa Highway District has determined a preferred alignment (see map). Canyon Highway District is in the process of selecting its preferred alignment. It is assumed the west end will eventually connect to I-84 or US-95 somewhere west or north of Caldwell, and the east end to I-84 somewhere southeast of Boise.
When will it be built?
The route is currently in the long-term planning stage. The first task is to determine route location, then preserve it for future development. Except for the Bowmont, Lynnwood to SH-45 project (discussed below), there are no immediate plans for construction.
Most of the route will likely be on existing roadways. Over time, different improvements can be systematically made to the different road segments to allow them to function more as an overall expressway. Such improvements may include reconfiguring intersections to allow free flow, widening shoulders, straightening curves, removing sight obstructions, and building new sections of road to fill in gaps in the route.
As property along the route develops and changes use, the developers may be required to make improvements such as eliminate or reconfigure driveways or build turn bays, turn lanes, or better drainage facilities.
Bowmont, Lynwood to SH-45.
This project was built in 2015 to improve that portion of the Western Route Express Way consisting of Bowmont Road between Lynnwood and SH-45. The purpose was to fix the “dog leg” intersection at SH-45, and straighten the portion between La Pine and SH-45 to run along the section line.
Click Here for Nampa Highway District No. 1’s portion of the Western Route
Several local entities, including Canyon Highway District No. 4 and Nampa Highway District partnered together with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to create the Lake Lowell Area Bicycle and Pedestrian Access Plan. The project was managed by FHWA and finalized in October 2016. The Plan can be viewed on the FHWA web site or by clicking here:
Questions regarding the Plan may be directed to project manager Susan Law at susan.law@dot.gov.
The Airport/Overland Road Corridor Study was completed in July 2011. It provides a plan for the corridor to be used in guiding the details of future land development and road widening.
The study represents a multi-agency effort to identify a more direct east-west transportation route connecting the Nampa Airport and Garrity Road Interchange in Canyon County with the newly-realigned Overland Road/Ten Mile Road intersection in Ada County.
The study was a collaborative effort led by the City of Nampa, with input from the Nampa Municipal Airport, Nampa Highway District No. 1, City of Meridian, and Ada County Highway District.
To read the full report click on the link here. This file is over 30mb, so it will take a while to download.
The Transportation Plan was adopted in June 2019 and provides a long-range look at future maintenance and system expansion beyond the Five Year Work Plan.
For a copy of the Transportation Plan, click on the link below:
Speed limits are set by the Board of Commissioners based on engineering investigation, and in accordance with Idaho Code, state prescribed methodology and national standards.
Law
Several sections of Idaho Code address speed limits. The main one dealing with setting speed limits is §49-207(3), which states, “Local authorities…shall determine by an engineering or traffic investigation the proper maximum speed…”
Methodology
The methodology for conducting engineering investigations is prescribed in the Manual for Establishing Speed Limits & Speed Zones in Idaho. It includes analysis of the 85th Percentile and Pace Speeds, crash history, and consideration of roadway characteristics, purpose, and usage. For additional information, please see the “Further Reading” articles below. Methods differ, however, for some residential, school, and new construction locations.
Standards
The engineering investigation methodology follows nationally recognized standards, which have been shown by research and experience to result in lowest crash rates and highest safety.
The Manual for Establishing Speed Limits & Speed Zones in Idaho is published by the Local Highway Technical Assistance Council, which is the state agency that provides uniform standards, practices and training on highway and road issues for cities, counties and highway districts in Idaho.
These standards are also used by the Idaho Transportation Department, most other states, and are acknowledged by the following national entities:
- Federal Highway Administration
- American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
- American Traffic Safety Services Association
- Institute of Transportation Engineers
- Transportation Research Board
Further Reading. Please see the below articles for more information.
Project Overview
Nampa Highway District No. 1 and the City of Nampa are working together to forecast future road improvements for Robinson Road, between Franklin Road and Deer Flat Road. This area is anticipated to grow substantially over the next 20 years. This study will address future growth and to develop improvement concepts that support convenient and safe travel for all travelers, including drivers, freight, pedestrians and bicyclists.
Please use the link below to submit feedback, comments, and learn the details of this Study.
Bid Solicitation
Nampa Highway District, in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 78 Stat. 252, 42 U.S.C. 2000d to 2000d-4 and Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Department of Transportation, Subtitle A, Office of the Secretary, Part 21, Nondiscrimination in Federally-assisted programs of the Department of Transportation issued pursuant to such Act, hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively ensure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprises as defined at 49 CFR Part 23 will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in consideration for an award.
Current Solicitations
Past Solicitations
Bids were opened January 30, 2025, with the following results:
- Idaho Materials & Construction: $1,619,251.00
- Knife River: $1,984,000.00
- Nampa Paving: $1,540,761.00 (Award Pending)
- Sunroc Corp: $2,018,700.00
- Thueson Construction: $2,105,500.00
Bids were opened September 29, 2022 with the following results:
- Oldcastle Infrastructure: $122,765.00 (Award Pending)
- Idaho Precast: Incomplete Bid
Statements of Qualifications (SOQs) were received October 20, 2022 for a Preapproved List for Professional Engineering and Professional Land Survey services for the categories of (1) intersection design, and (2) construction engineering and inspection. Three firms were selected for each category as follows:
Intersection Design:
- Kittelson & Associates
- Parametrix
- Six Mile Engineering
Construction Engineering & Inspection:
- HMH Engineering
- T-O Engineers
- Atlas
Bids were opened on November 29, 2022, with the following results:
- Chadez Concrete Inc.: $ 268,600.00 (Award Pending)
Bids were opened February 9, 2023 with the following results:
- Nampa Paving: $ 2,286,439.00
- Sunroc Corp: $ 2,908,900.00
- Knife River Corp: $ 2,865,865.00
- Idaho Materials & Construction: $ 2,374,994.00
- Central Paving: $ 2,200,580.68 (Award Pending)
Bids were opened Thursday February 29, 2024 with the following results:
- Nampa Paving: $ 2,900,000.00
- Sunroc Corp: $ 3,385,000.00
- Knife River Corp: $ 3,197,500.00
- Idaho Materials & Construction: $ 2,510,880.00 (Award Pending)
- Theuson: $ 3,109,995.00
Bids were opened October 31, 2024 with the following results:
- AME Electric Inc.: $ 155,540.5
- Southern Idaho Electric Inc.: $ 142,665.40 (Award Pending)
- Quality Electric Inc.: $ 254,810.40
- Riverbend Electric: $313,394.40
Bids were opened October 31, 2024 with the following results:
- Chadez Concrete Inc.: $ 314,384.00 (Award Pending)
Bids were opened November 7, 2024 with the following results:
- Sunroc Corp: $ 5,283,605.00
- Idaho Grading & Trucking: $ 5,410,920.80
- Granite Excavation: $ 5,987,389.00
- Nampa Paving: $ 5,425,152.00
- Idaho Material & Construction: $5,858,371.00
- Dasco of Idaho: $ 5,495,957.00
- Idaho Site Works: $ 5,599,081.95
- Knife River: $ 6,046,287.00
- LaRiviere: $ 5,283,496.60
Northside & Cherry Bid Results Summary
All bids were rejected.
Bids were opened December 12, 2024 with the following results:
- Sunroc Corp: $ 5,277,999.99
- Granite Excavation: $ 6,081,491.00
- Idaho Material & Construction: $ 5,361,299.25
- Dasco of Idaho: $ 5,318,000.00
- Idaho Site Works: $ 4,999,630.00
- Knife River: $ 5,951,479.00
- LaRiviere: $ 4,961,492.00 (Award Pending)
Bids were opened April 10, 2025 with the following results:
- Desert Sky Construction, LLC.: $ 237,554.00
- Chadez Concrete, Inc.: $ 196,563.00 (Award Pending)
- BriCon, Inc.: $ 290,751.00
Federal Stormwater Regulations
