TWIN FALLS, Idaho — Magic Valley commuters heading west out of Twin Falls are facing a months-long detour after the Idaho Transportation Department closed the Interstate 84 westbound on-ramp at Exit 173 for a full reconstruction project. The closure, which began Monday, is expected to last between one and three months, with ITD hoping to reopen the ramp before the Fourth of July holiday.
The project adds another chapter to more than two years of continuous construction activity along the I-84 corridor between Twin Falls and Jerome — a stretch that only recently reached a major milestone with the substantial completion of a widening project that added a third lane of traffic.
What Commuters Need to Know
Drivers who would normally use the westbound loop ramp at Exit 173 will now be redirected to an alternate route along Highway 93. ITD has installed a temporary turn lane with a dedicated traffic signal to manage the new traffic pattern for the duration of construction.
“If you are going northbound and you need to go westbound, you’re just going to take the southbound on-ramp instead of the loop ramp,” said Courtney Wagner with ITD.
The temporary configuration is designed to keep traffic moving through one of Twin Falls County’s busiest highway corridors while crews complete the ramp rebuild. Commuters traveling Blue Lakes Boulevard and Highway 93 should anticipate adjusted travel times, particularly during morning and evening peak hours, and plan accordingly.
Wagner noted the project timeline remains subject to weather and other construction variables. “Before July 4th, we hope to have it open — depending on weather and conditions and all the other things that could happen during construction — we’re hoping anywhere from one month to three months,” she said.
A Concrete Upgrade Built to Last
The decision to rebuild the ramp was driven by long-term infrastructure durability goals. ITD officials say the existing ramp surface will be replaced entirely with concrete, a material that offers a significantly longer service life and reduced maintenance costs for taxpayers over time.
“We’re basically redoing all of it into concrete to make it more efficient for people and have a longer life span,” Wagner said.
The project was made possible in part by remaining resources from the larger Jerome-to-Twin Falls widening effort. According to Wagner, planners saw an opportunity to take advantage of available funding and construction momentum rather than scheduling a separate, future closure.
“This was something like, ‘you know what? We have a little bit of extra funding and a little extra time — let’s make this even better,'” Wagner said.
The decision reflects a fiscally responsible approach to highway maintenance — leveraging existing project resources to complete additional improvements rather than mobilizing a separate construction contract at greater cost to taxpayers later. The ramp reconstruction had been under discussion for some time before ITD moved up the start date to capitalize on current conditions.
“This has been in discussion for a little while. Originally, it was anticipated to start in about a month or two. But we got progress rolling, and we decided to get it up and going,” Wagner said.
Construction at the new Jerome overpass remains ongoing as part of the broader I-84 corridor improvement effort, meaning Magic Valley drivers can expect continued construction activity in the area through at least the coming months.
What Comes Next
ITD has not announced a firm reopening date for the Exit 173 westbound on-ramp but has set an informal target of before July 4, 2026. The agency will continue to monitor weather conditions and construction progress. Twin Falls County commuters are encouraged to allow extra time along the Highway 93 and I-84 interchange and to watch for updated signage installed by ITD throughout the detour period. For statewide transportation and infrastructure news, visit idahonews.co, and for additional coverage across the Idaho News Network, visit IdahoNewsNetwork.com.