The Idaho Transportation Department is implementing a restricted traffic pattern at the intersection of U.S. Highway 26 (Yellowstone Highway) and Iona Road in response to a spike in serious crashes that has claimed two lives over five years.
Beginning next summer, drivers will face significant limitations at the busy intersection. Northbound and southbound traffic on Yellowstone Highway will be permitted to turn right onto Iona Road only. Similarly, eastbound and westbound traffic on Iona Road will be restricted to right turns onto Yellowstone Highway. Left turns and crossing maneuvers through the intersection will be prohibited entirely.
Safety Concerns Drive Early Action
The intersection has recorded 90 crashes between 2021 and 2025, including two fatal collisions. The problem intensified in 2025, when 21 crashes occurred at the location. The severity of the safety record prompted ITD to accelerate the timeline for implementing traffic control measures.
“We are asking people to alter their route and go slightly out of their way,” ITD Spokeswoman Sky Buffat told East Idaho News. “It’s not something we would be doing if we didn’t feel like it was truly worth it and could make the road safer.”
Drivers needing to turn left or cross the intersection will be directed to use alternative routes at nearby Woodruff Avenue or Hitt Road intersections.
Infrastructure Improvements Underway
ITD will install concrete barricades, heavy traffic control barrels, permanent delineators, and directional signage to enforce the new traffic pattern and guide drivers safely through the area.
Concurrent with the traffic restrictions, ITD is widening Hitt Road to five lanes and installing a traffic signal at the Hitt Road and Iona Road intersection. These improvements are designed to provide safer, more efficient alternative routes for drivers unable to access their intended destinations directly through the Yellowstone-Iona intersection.
The construction work is slated to begin next summer, with the traffic pattern changes taking effect as part of the broader safety enhancement project.
What Comes Next
Residents and commuters in the area should prepare for significant changes to traffic flow at one of Southeast Idaho’s busiest intersections. Drivers are encouraged to familiarize themselves with alternative routes now and plan accordingly once construction begins. ITD will provide updated timelines and construction schedules as work approaches. Motorists with questions about the project or traffic pattern changes may contact ITD directly for additional information.
The project reflects a broader effort by Idaho transportation officials to address high-crash intersections through engineering controls rather than enforcement alone. Idaho Transportation Shifts Southbound I-15 Traffic Near Chubbuck This Weekend highlights similar efforts to manage traffic flow in the region.