Marking the culmination of more than a decade of safety improvements on U.S. 20, the new $11.2 million Thornton Interchange improves access management and traffic flow between Idaho Falls and Sugar City. This section of the 4-lane divided highway was prone to vehicle crashes because of its ground-level intersections. The Thornton Interchange was the last of 7 new interchanges on U.S. 20 to curb this problem. Despite a 115-percent increase in traffic in this area, these improvements have cut the rate of serious injury crashes by 75 percent and cut fatalities to less than one per year. The project utilized 3D modeling, used Automated Machine Guidance, and coordinated closely with the railroad and local utilities to save money and time.
America's Transportation Awards 