Highway 53, Pleasant View Interchange now to fully open Monday, not Friday

There has been a change in plans for the opening of the new Pleasant View Interchange on State Highway 53, the Idaho Transportation Department said Thursday.

The interchange will now fully open Monday with all associated traffic changes taking effect the same day. There will be no traffic pattern changes Friday as previously announced by ITD.

"Following additional coordination, the Idaho Transportation Department determined the safest and most efficient way to transition traffic into the new configuration is to make all major changes at the same time rather than phase them over several weeks," a press release said.

The previously announced overnight closure of SH-53 will still take place starting at 8 tonight through early Friday morning as crews paint final roadway markings. Traffic will be detoured overnight via McGuire Road and Prairie Avenue.

Starting Monday, the following changes will take effect: 

The new Pleasant View Interchange will fully open to traffic.

Access between Prairie Avenue and SH-53 will permanently close.

Access between McGuire Road and SH-53 will permanently close.

The temporary traffic signal at Prairie Avenue and SH-53 will be removed.

All traffic in the area will use the new interchange to access SH-53 or cross the highway and adjacent BNSF railroad tracks.

Also starting Monday, crews will begin realigning the Prairie Avenue and Beck Road intersection into a smooth curve to connect the two as a single, continuous road. This section will be closed for up to a week as work is completed, with traffic detoured to Seltice Way.