Idaho Highway 55 ITD

Idaho State Highway 55 is pictured, with the Banks-Lowman Road intersection visible to the north.

Courtesy of Idaho Transportation Department

BOISE COUNTY — Thousands travel through the intersection of Highway 55 and Banks-Lowman Road each year, and the Idaho Transportation Department is inviting them to provide input on proposed improvements to the crossway.

The department is hosting multiple in-person opportunities to learn about and discuss the plans, which include widening the intersection to improve safety and mobility, replacing two bridges and installing a permanent traffic signal, a release from ITD states.

A temporary traffic signal was installed at the busy intersection in spring 2025 to reduce congestion; previously, the intersection was partially controlled with a stop sign at Banks-Lowman Road, while traffic flowed freely north and south on the highway, often creating long waits for drivers to find a gap in traffic and turn onto the highway.

ITD also used flaggers during peak travel periods.

In-person meetings

Two open-house format meetings will be held in the coming days, where participants are welcome to drop in to speak with project representatives.

  • Thursday, Aug. 27, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at American Legion Post 60 (105 E. Mill St., Cascade)
  • Tuesday, Sept. 1, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Garden Valley High School (1053 Banks-Lowman Road, Garden Valley)

Additionally, community members can drop into these locations to see project information:

  • Saturday, Aug. 29, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Bear Valley Rafting (7864 Idaho 55, Banks)
  • Friday, Sept. 4, 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Brundage Summer Concert Series (3890 Goose Lake Road, McCall)

Project info online

Project information and plans are now available online at itd.idaho.gov/project/55bankslowman. An online comment form on that page will be open until Monday, Sept. 14.

Madison Guernsey is the News Editor at the Idaho Press.