BOISE, ID The Idaho Transportation Board approved $150 million in bond funding against future federal allocations to repair and add lanes on Interstate 84 between Franklin Boulevard and Karcher Road in Nampa, saying the project would reduce congestion and improve safety.

In a unanimous decision, the board approved that amount of GARVEE (Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicle) bonds, which is half the $300 million in new bond funding that the Legislature recently authorized for specific highway corridors in a new funding bill.

The board, which oversees the Idaho Transportation Department and determines the projects the ITD works on, said its I-84 funding allows the department to advance a project to reconstruct existing lanes, add a third lane in each direction and upgrade bridges.

"We recognize this I-84 corridor presents immediate safety and congestion concerns," said Chairman Jerry Whitehead. "ITD engineers have shown a readiness to tackle the project and the board supports moving quickly to improve this section of road."

"We have known this corridor is a top concern that affects all of Idaho," said ITD Director Brian Ness. "By adding lane miles, we can move more goods and services to businesses while reducing crashes. We thank the board for the opportunity to move forward as quickly as possible on this project."

Meanwhile, board members are reviewing other authorized corridors that the new funding bill outlined for bond issuance.

"As we determine which projects to prioritize, we need the best information on all applicable corridors," said Whitehead. "We look forward to getting that data from ITD engineers and moving forward in future board meetings."