Ultimate Interstates:Boise Metro
The Boise metro region is growing significantly and highways are becoming more congested in the region. the need for a possible bypass of the metro area is becoming more of a reality. A new interstate bypass around the southern side of the treasure valley could help provide relief by moving through traffic around the more congested areas in the treasure valley. Namely Boise, Meridian, Nampa and Caldwell where most of the regional congestion exists. An additional cross connector freeway (I-484 or I-11 depending on routing) could be used to connect the bypass to the planned SH-16 freeway near the Canyon-Ada county lines.
Ultimate Interstate 284
Ultimate Interstate 284 is a conceptual interstate highway bypass loop that traverses around the south side of the Boise Metro area.
Conceptual Routing
The highway would begin in the northwest from I-84 at a new interchange located between mile marker 19 to 22 north of Purple Sage Rd and travel southward to the west of Caldwell to near Marsing, ID then turning to the southeast passing to the south of Lake Lowell. The highway would then intersect SH-45 to the south of Nampa then travel eastward passing Kuna, ID to the south then heading east in the vicinity of Kuna-Mora Rd connecting to I-84 east of Boise near mile marker 64.
Potential interchanges
- US-20/26
- SH-19 (Simplot Blvd)
- SH-55 (Karcher Rd)
- I-11
- SH-45
- I-484/McDermott Rd
- Swan Falls Rd
- Cloverdale Rd
- Pleasant Valley Rd
Ultimate Interstate 484
Ultimate Interstate 484 is a north-south auxiliary interstate highway connector connecting I-84 and SH-16 (planned) with the conceptual I-284 bypass to the south. If built this highway would be in the vicinity of McDermott Rd. the highway could also potentially serve as a possible routing for the planned I-11 should that corridor be routed to the east.
Purpose and Need
The route would help with Potential future growth in the treasure valley by providing relief from I-84 congesting and allowing through interstate traffic to utilize the bypass rather than travelling through the city. Traffic studies should be considered to determine viability of these corridors plan to begin to plan for corridor preservation of a potential bypass route.
==Urban Sprawl Concerns== Additional development in the south valley is possible and likely should the route be built but there may be some ways to design the bypass to minimize in urban sprawl along the corridor by spacing out exits further apart and limiting development along the corridors.
Alternate Routing
There are no alternate routings proposed at this time.
Plausibility
A bypass of some type in the Treasure Valley is inevitable as more people move in from other states looking for affordable high quality of life, good career options, and lower cost of living. Growth is inevitable in the valley and as more people move in congestion will need to be addressed properly.