The Weiser community is going to see big changes to Commercial Street. Most notably the section between 3rd Street and State Street. Talking with Weiser City Public Works Director, Michael Campbell, the Commercial Street project has been in the works for a little over a year. “Projects like this have to be shovel ready to even get the grant. We had to have the design for this before we even applied for the grant,” Campbell stated.
The City of Weiser was given 1.98 million dollars through a grant from the Idaho Transportation Department. ITD set aside funds for this grant to go towards streets that help take the burden off of main streets and highways that are owned by the State. When Campbell heard about the grant he called the City’s engineers right away to see if there was a possibility of Weiser being able to get this grant. Speaking about Commercial Street Campbell shared, “That’s the only road in Weiser that is going to qualify for that grant.”
In total the Commercial Street Project will make changes to the road from Highway 95 to State Street with the 1.98 million dollar grant money slotted to pay for the section from 3rd Street to State Street. Below you can see a map detailing what this part of the project will look like when completed.
The City did speak with the Matthews who own the Mathews Grain and Storage building about removing the old scale out front of the building. The scale was on public right of way and now has been removed. Campbell shared that they didn’t want to have the scale removed, but it was necessary in order to improve the intersection of Commercial and 1st Street. The City plans to install new sidewalks, curb and gutter in front of the building. With the removal of the scale they will be able to widen that intersection creating more visibility and added safety.
Other noted changes will be the narrowing of the road to a city street width. The plan will involve moving the curbs out to align the entire street. They will be putting in new sidewalks, curbs and gutters down Commercial. The intersection of Commercial and 2nd Street will have a new look as well. With the narrowing of the road the curb and sidewalk in front of the old bowling alley will be moved out to align with the rest of Commercial Street. This will make the intersection that is currently a “Y” act as a more traditional intersection with a stop sign posted at Commercial Street and 2nd Street where drivers will be able to better see oncoming traffic.
After this portion of the project is finished the City plans to finish the section from Highway 95 to 3rd Street when funds are available. This section will continue the alignment of Commercial Street, adding new sidewalks, curbs, gutters as well as lengthening homeowners driveways. It will also include redoing the culvert and bridge over the creek with a smaller and more easily maintained bridge and culvert. Bids for the current section of the projects go out at the end of this month with the project slated to begin Spring of 2025.
