As a city, we have been talking about the need for an overpass on Linder for years that would make a crucial connection between the north and south parts of Meridian just as the Locust Grove overpass did nearly two decades ago. This overpass will alleviate congestion at Ten Mile and Meridian roads and will help meet our public safety, education and business needs as a community.

In case you haven’t heard, I am proud to share that construction of the project is currently moving forward and will include improvements to Linder Road between Overland and Franklin roads.

Phase 1 of the project will focus on reconstructing the Overland Road and Linder Road intersection south of I-84 and preparing that road segment for the future overpass. Residents should anticipate occasional lane restrictions, temporary intersection closures, and pedestrian detours during this phase. This project is expected to be completed this fall.

Once right-of-way and environmental permitting needs are finalized, phase 2 is set to begin in mid-2026 and continue through 2027. This phase will include the construction of the I-84 overpass and the widening of Linder Road north to Franklin Road. These improvements will not only provide better traffic flow but also include safety improvements such as raised medians and enhanced facilities for pedestrians including multi-use pathways and hawk signals.

The project is expected to cost approximately $27 million and is funded through a combination of contributors, including $2.5 million from the City and about $7 million for bridge construction over I-84 of which $4.3M of was received by the City as part of a Strategic Initiatives Grant from the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD). The majority of funds are coming from the Ada County Highway District (ACHD) and ITD to this corridor, that once completed will be the longest north/south road in Ada County that will span the interstate, railroad and Boise River.

As construction approaches, we will continue to share updates from ACHD and ITD on our website and our social media accounts. If you would like to stay informed, you can do so by following the City of Meridian and ACHD on Facebook or by following updates on ACHD’s website.

This project is creating the infrastructure that is needed in Meridian so we can all get from point a to point b quicker. It’s about getting our fire engines from Station 6 on Overland to serve areas north of the interstate on Linder. It’s about creating connections to Peregrine Elementary that allow students and teachers to travel safely to and from, while also allowing buses to get to and from their current facility on Franklin. And it's about alleviating congestion so parents can get home faster to spend more time with their family.

Thank you to our partners at ITD and ACHD for their investment in our community. Together, we are building a better, more connected Meridian.