Speaking

This presentation highlights the fast-tracked conversion of the Boise Avenue & Eckert Road intersection in Boise, Idaho, from a stop-controlled T-intersection to a modern roundabout with upgraded bicycle and pedestrian accommodations. The intersection sits on a steep grade and serves a high-activity corridor leading to one of Boise’s premier parks and the Greenbelt, creating heightened safety risk and user conflicts—especially during peak walking and biking seasons.

Originally initiated as a detailed study, the project shifted abruptly when field investigations revealed severe deterioration of the adjacent Eckert Road bridge, including rotting timber piers requiring posting. Ada County Highway District (ACHD) closed the bridge and partnered with the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) to implement emergency repairs, accelerating the roadway and intersection work into an emergency-response design environment.

Attendees will learn practical strategies for delivering a safety-focused intersection redesign under extreme schedule pressure: coordinating across multiple agencies and consultants, advancing a constructible design quickly without defaulting to short-term fixes and integrating complete streets elements in a context with heavy active transportation demand. The presentation will also cover effective public involvement approaches when a highly engaged community has strong expectations for both safety performance and aesthetics.