A long-anticipated road improvement project on one of Twin Falls’ most heavily traveled corridors officially got underway Wednesday, July 1, as the Idaho Transportation Department launched a comprehensive resurfacing and infrastructure upgrade effort along Kimberly Road.
The project stretches from Blue Lakes Boulevard to Eastland Drive and encompasses far more than a simple repaving job. Work will include roadway base improvements, updated traffic signals at the Kimberly Road intersections with both Blue Lakes Boulevard and Locust Street, new ADA-compliant ramps, drainage improvements, and a range of other infrastructure upgrades that city and state officials say have been needed for years.
What Drivers Can Expect
Motorists traveling Kimberly Road should plan ahead. Throughout the construction period, traffic will be reduced to a single lane in each direction along the work zone. Flaggers will control traffic on Blue Lakes Boulevard near the Kimberly Road intersection during active paving operations, and some local side streets will face temporary closures where they meet Kimberly Road.
The project timeline is substantial — crews expect the work to take approximately one year to complete, meaning drivers, residents, and businesses along the corridor should plan for an extended period of reduced capacity and periodic disruptions.
The timing follows a years-long water line replacement project on the same corridor, which had already slowed traffic through the area for roughly two years. City spokesman Josh Palmer acknowledged the frustration that comes with back-to-back construction seasons. “When we did the waterline project, I know it was inconvenient,” Palmer said. But he maintained that the ongoing investment in the corridor is necessary, describing the current work as essential to keeping the city’s infrastructure in sound condition.
This is not the only stretch of Twin Falls road infrastructure drawing attention right now. An emergency irrigation pipe leak earlier this year forced the closure of a Twin Falls intersection and triggered rapid repair work, highlighting how aging underground systems can surface — sometimes literally — without warning. The Kimberly Road project, by contrast, is a planned, systematic approach to preventing that kind of reactive scrambling.
Businesses Adjusting, Offering Alternative Routes
Businesses along the corridor have been notified of upcoming changes to access and traffic flow. At least one local business — a janitorial company — took to social media to inform customers that Floral Avenue can be used as an alternate access route to reach a nearby restaurant during construction-related disruptions.
The heads-up from local businesses reflects a broader awareness that multi-month construction projects require community coordination. With Kimberly Road serving as a key east-west artery connecting Blue Lakes Boulevard — itself one of Twin Falls’ busiest commercial strips — to residential and commercial areas further east, any lane reductions will be felt by a wide cross-section of daily commuters and shoppers.
Improvements near the Blue Lakes Boulevard and Kimberly Road intersection are part of the scope as well, which could ultimately benefit the flow of traffic at one of the city’s more congested points. The signal upgrades at both the Blue Lakes and Locust Street intersections are designed to improve overall movement through the corridor once the project wraps up.
Twin Falls has seen a string of infrastructure projects in recent months. The city recently installed physical barriers on Washington Street to address dangerous illegal left turns, another sign that transportation planners are taking an active approach to managing traffic patterns as the community continues to grow.
What Comes Next
With work now officially underway, residents and commuters should expect lane restrictions and occasional flagging operations to become a familiar sight on Kimberly Road for the next twelve months. Drivers are encouraged to allow extra travel time, particularly during peak morning and evening hours, and to watch for temporary closure signs on side streets intersecting the corridor.
Businesses along Kimberly Road that have not already communicated alternate access options to their customers may want to do so proactively. The Idaho Transportation Department and the City of Twin Falls are expected to provide updates as construction progresses through various phases of the project.