Eckert Road Bridge and Intersection Project

• Erosion control measures being installed.
• Intermountain Gas relocating gas line.
• Veolia working on water across Boise River bridge.
• Dewatering measures anticipated being installed starting Oct 23rd.

• Erosion control measures being installed October 12th.
• Intermountain Gas is relocating gas line.

Thank you to everyone that attended the construction open house! We were pleased that 183 neighbors took the time to come learn more about the upcoming construction work. If you missed the open house, the display boards, along with some key information from the open house can be found below.

• Display boards

Key Information

• Closures and detours will start as early as Monday, October 12th
• Barber Park will remain open.
• Parking at Barber Park will remain open.
• The bridges will be closed and reconstructed first. When the bridges reopen, work on the Eckert Rd and Boise Ave intersection will start.

The Ada County Highway District (ACHD) will begin construction on the Eckert Road Bridge & Intersection Project at the beginning of October 2026*. Work is expected to be complete in Summer 2028.

What to Expect

• Closures and Detours: The road and bridges will be closed. Detours for motor vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists will follow the same routes previously used when the bridge was closed in the winter of 2025 for interim repairs.
• Construction Noise: Equipment backup alarms, dust and ground vibration. Pile driving is expected to happen between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.*
• Weekday and Weekend Work: Weekday work will occur 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and weekends 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. unless otherwise approved.
• Access: Barber Park access will be maintained with a temporary bypass over the canal. The contractor will also work with property owners to minimize impacts and maintain access.
• Traffic calming: A variety of tools will be used in nearby neighborhoods to manage traffic.

* The process of hammering long structural columns, called piles, deep into the ground or riverbed to create a strong, stable deep foundation for the bridge.

Join Us for a Construction Open House!

• October 6, 2026 | 5-7 p.m.
• Barber Park Education and Event Center | 4049 S Eckert Rd, Boise
• Display boards

In December 2025 ACHD shared the bridge and intersection designs with the public, seeking the neighborhoods preferences on aesthetics. Residents could participate online and come to an open house that was held on December 9th.

View the Comment Summary

View the bridge and intersection designs, then take the survey to share your preferences about aesthetics. Let us know which bridge railing style you like best, as well as the textures you prefer for the railings and retaining wall areas.

There are two ways to participate:

• Online

  • View the online map and learn more about the project.
• In-Person Open House
  
  
  • December 9, 2025 | 5-7 p.m.
  • Barber Park Education & Event Center | 4049 S Eckert Rd

The Eckert Road Bridge is back open to vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists after the completion of interim repairs. A final inspection by the Idaho Transportation Department confirmed that the bridge is safe for passenger vehicles and commercial traffic within legal load limits.

The bridge was closed in January 2025 after an inspection identified significant structural decay. ACHD and ITD collaborated to complete the repairs quickly and safely, and reopened the bridge March 10.

ACHD is actively working on plans for a full reconstruction of the bridge, with design work already underway. Construction is tentatively scheduled to begin in fall 2026. Updates on the replacement project will be provided as planning progresses.

BOISE — Interim repairs on the Eckert Road Bridge are now complete, and the structure is once again safe for travel. Following a final inspection, the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) has confirmed that the bridge can reopen for passenger vehicles and commercial traffic that meet legal load requirements. The bridge is scheduled to reopen by the end of the day today, Monday, March 10.

The bridge was originally closed at the end of January after a routine inspection revealed severe decay in its support structures. Given the urgency of the situation, ITD developed a repair plan based off of a similar bridge in northern Idaho and worked in tandem with ACHD to secure emergency permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

“Public safety is always our top priority,” said Ryan Head, ACHD Director. “This project was a true testament to the power of partnership. We appreciate ITD’s quick response in developing a repair plan, and we thank the public for their patience as we worked to ensure the bridge’s safety. This collaboration allowed us to address a critical issue and restore access as quickly as possible.”

Repairs began on February 17, when crews started diverting a portion of the Boise River. The repair process involved using steel plate channels to reinforce the bridge’s support piles, with each pile then supported by a concrete base. Crews worked in phases, diverting one half of the river at a time. Crews from ACHD and ITD worked together each day, including over weekends and holidays, to complete the repairs as quickly as possible.

“This project required a rapid and coordinated effort, and we’re pleased with the outcome,” said ITD Chief Deputy Director Dan McElhinney. “Our teams worked tirelessly to ensure the bridge could safely reopen before river levels rose, and we’re grateful for the collaboration that made it possible.”

After crews finished repairs on all severely decayed piles, along with several that showed moderate decay, ITD conducted a final inspection to ensure the bridge was safe to reopen with no weight restriction. The repairs were completed in time for the summer float season, ensuring safe access for vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians.

ACHD and ITD completed the project in a joint effort, with ACHD reimbursing ITD for materials and staff time. While final accounting of costs is still being completed, the estimated cost of the interim repairs is $500,000.

ACHD remains committed to the long-term reconstruction of the Eckert Bridge, with accelerated design work having begun in early February. The District is tentatively aiming to begin reconstruction on the bridge in fall 2026. More details on the full replacement project will be shared as plans progress.

Earlier this week, crews finished repair work on all piles that showed severe decay on the northern side of the bridge. They then shifted operations to divert the southern half of the river and began addressing severely decayed piles on the southern side.

By the end of the day tomorrow (Saturday), repairs on all bridge piles that were determined to have severe decay are expected to be complete.

Starting Monday, crews will begin work on piles that have shown moderate decay, beginning on the southern side of the bridge. ACHD will continue coordinating with ITD to inspect the bridge and determine when it is safe to reopen.

Senior Public Information Officer Rachel Bjornestad talks all things Eckert Bridge with Tom Otte, ACHD's Deputy Director of Operations.