News Release via ITD

The following projects in southwest Idaho are now under way or will begin soon.

ADA COUNTY
BOISE – Idaho 16 Extension

Work will start in mid- to late May for the first phase of the extension of Idaho 16. Crews will connect State Street to Chinden Boulevard, including a new bridge over the Boise River.

Concrete Placing Co. Inc., of Boise, is the apparent low bidder on this project, with a bid of $19.4 million.

A pre-construction meeting is set for next week. In the meantime, the contractor is working to install temporary fencing around the work site.

A groundbreaking ceremony is slated for May 24 at 2:16 p.m. at the corner of Idaho 44 and Idaho 16.

ADA COUNTY
MERIDIAN - Eagle Road resurfacing and medians

Work will likely start in late May on this project, which will resurface Idaho 55 from Fairview Avenue in Meridian to State Street in Eagle, and install raised medians from Franklin to Oakhampton Drive, one-half mile north of Chinden.

Idaho Sand & Gravel Co., of Nampa, is the apparent low bidder on this project, with a bid of $4.7 million.

ADA, ELMORE COUNTY
Repair of seven bridge decks in Ada and Elmore counties

The bridge decks on seven bridges from Boise through Mountain Home and to the east will be repaired and resurfaced in a six-month project that began in early May.

It's going to be a beautiful weekend in the Treasure Valley, and there's a lot going on.

Here's where you can find events occurring in your neighborhood.

MERIDIAN, Idaho (KBOI) - Meridian Middle School is proposing changes to its dress code.

Administrators say it would make it easier to enforce.

Traditionally, Meridian Middle School has had a more restrictive dress code policy compared to other schools in the district. Teachers hope the proposed changes would simplify everything for both teachers and students.

"I don't think they need to make chances except for inappropriate shirts," said Allen Fritzemeier, student.

Over the past several years, officials at MMS have been tweaking their dress code policy. After getting input from teachers and parents, they're proposing even more changes to help streamline the process.

Parents KBOI-TV talked with say they wouldn't mind seeing some new policies.

"They could be a little stricter with it even," said Donna Turnbough, a local parent. "If they are more on the same level I think that takes more competition out of who's who's friend and who isn't."

If the proposal is adopted by the school board, starting next year students would only be able to wear shirts with a school logo on it or a solid color Polo.

There aren't many restrictions on pants, but they just can't have any holes in them. Officials hope this will make it easier to enforce so teachers can focus more on their classes.

"Our goals to promote an academic focus and a standard of modesty," said Lisa Austin, principal. "Both of those things eliminate some distractions and certainly keep us all focused on the teacher the instruction."