Posted on 12/24/2019 12:14:33 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Leaders who spoke during a Friday morning ribbon-cutting ceremony to open a new Interstate 15 interchange touted the $31 million project as a prime example of what can be accomplished when entities cooperate.
The Northgate interchange opened to the public a few hours after the ceremony concluded, with Pocatello Mayor Brian Blad, Chubbuck Mayor Kevin England and members of the Bannock County Commission all driving their cars across the bridge as the official first users. The interchange is located north of both the Pocatello Creek Road exit and I-15’s “flying Y” with Interstate 86.
The interchange was first added to the state’s wish list of projects in 1994. Nonetheless, it wasn’t originally scheduled for construction for another 15 years. Officials at the ceremony recounted how a unique public-private partnership pushed the timeline about a decade and a half ahead, thereby priming open fields in the northeast corner of Pocatello and in adjacent Chubbuck for growth.
The partnership included private developers with Millennial Development, Pocatello Development Authority, Idaho Transportation Department, Bannock County and the cities of Pocatello and Chubbuck.
Commissioner Steve Brown described the project as a “rare example of what can be accomplished when there’s a common goal and a greater purpose for everyone.”
ITD District Engineer Todd Hubbard said the project represents the largest public-private partnership his agency has been involved in completing.
“I’m excited to see the growth and the impacts that this interchange will have within this community,” Hubbard said.
Millennial Development, which is building the Northgate multi-use development in the vicinity of the interchange, agreed to pay between $5 million and $6 million to construct a connecting roadway on the Pocatello side.
(Excerpt) Read more at idahostatejournal.com ...
PING.
Maybe these guys should take over the never-ending I15 project near Midvale Utah. They need someone competent.
There was no real reason to build this interchange. There wasn’t even a highway to connect it to. They had to build a highway to the interchange while they were building the interchange. There literally is nothing there. Im sure that will change now, it will get clogged up with anything people can think of to put there.
let me guess they were also the first drivers to get tickets too?
Amen! To that!
“...a prime example of what can be accomplished when entities cooperate...”
Translation: all concerned politicians and contractors got a piece of the skim.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.