A busy Idaho Falls intersection will be completely off-limits to drivers for approximately 30 days as crews break ground on a new roundabout at Birch Street and South Boulevard. The full closure took effect Sunday morning, with contractor DL Beck Inc. leading the construction effort.
What Drivers Need to Know
The intersection at Birch Street and South Boulevard is closed to all traffic while the roundabout takes shape. City officials say detour routes will be clearly marked to help drivers navigate around the work zone. Motorists familiar with the area should plan for alternate routes and expect some adjustment to typical travel times through that corridor.
While the intersection itself is expected to reopen in roughly 30 days, the broader construction project carries a total timeline of approximately 120 days, with final completion targeted for late fall 2026. As with any outdoor infrastructure project, city officials noted the schedule could shift depending on weather conditions or unexpected complications encountered during construction.
Roundabout Design Aims to Improve Safety and Traffic Flow
The new roundabout is designed to reduce the number of conflict points drivers encounter at the intersection, improve sight lines, and create smoother, more efficient traffic movement through the area. Roundabouts have increasingly become a preferred alternative to traditional signalized intersections in many Idaho communities, offering potential reductions in serious injury crashes by eliminating high-speed perpendicular collisions.
This project follows similar work already completed nearby. The Elm Street roundabout, situated just south of the Birch Street and South Boulevard intersection, was previously finished and serves as a local example of the same traffic management approach now being extended further along the corridor.
The back-to-back roundabout projects reflect a broader pattern of infrastructure investment in Idaho Falls as the city works to manage growing traffic demands across its street network. Earlier this year, the Idaho Falls City Council secured two federal transit grants to sustain GIFT Bus Service through 2027, another sign of the city’s continued focus on transportation infrastructure and connectivity for residents.
What Comes Next
Drivers should expect the Birch Street and South Boulevard intersection to remain fully closed through mid-August, barring any changes to the construction schedule. After the intersection reopens, work will continue on the surrounding project for the remainder of the 120-day construction window, with a targeted completion date in late fall 2026.
Residents and commuters are encouraged to follow posted detour signage and allow extra travel time when passing through that part of Idaho Falls. Updates on construction progress or schedule changes are expected to come from the city as the project advances.
For broader coverage of infrastructure and public works projects across the state, visit Idaho News.