Canyon County Sheriff Kieran Donahue fired off a sharp rebuke to the Idaho Transportation Department after ITD closed two consecutive westbound Interstate 84 interchanges simultaneously last weekend without advance notice to local law enforcement, leaving Nampa and Meridian police departments blindsided by the traffic disruption affecting the busy Treasure Valley corridor.
The closures — westbound Ten Mile Interchange (Exit 42) and westbound Garrity Interchange (Exit 38) — began Friday night at 9 p.m. and remained in effect through Monday morning at 5 a.m. Donahue learned of the road work only after reading a social media post Friday morning, hours before the closures took effect.
No Advance Warning to Local Law Enforcement
Donahue immediately contacted his counterparts at the Nampa Police Department and Meridian Police Department. Neither agency had received any advance notification from ITD about the planned work or the resulting traffic impacts, according to the sheriff’s account. The lack of coordination raised immediate red flags for law enforcement responsible for managing public safety across the affected area.
In a direct message to ITD, Donahue characterized the closure strategy as “quite ridiculous and irresponsible,” according to the email. He questioned why the state transportation agency had failed to alert local police departments to prepare for the expected congestion and safety concerns that would accompany losing two exits in the same direction within a short distance.
Questions About Traffic Control and Alternative Routes
ITD directed drivers to use the Meridian westbound exit and the Franklin westbound exit in Nampa as alternatives during the closure period. However, Donahue raised concerns about whether the state agency had adequately prepared for gridlock at these alternate routes. He also questioned whether ITD had deployed sufficient traffic control personnel to manage the anticipated bottleneck.
The simultaneous closure of two consecutive interchanges on one of the region’s most heavily traveled corridors creates a significant management challenge. Interstate 84 serves as a critical artery for commuter traffic, commercial vehicles, and travelers moving between Nampa, Caldwell, Middleton, and points east and west throughout the Treasure Valley.
The Sheriff’s Office handles law enforcement coverage across Canyon County, including areas directly affected by the freeway closures. Police departments in Nampa and Meridian were left unprepared to manage the traffic flow impacts without advance coordination with ITD regarding timing, duration, and traffic diversion strategies.
Impact on Canyon County Emergency Response
Beyond routine traffic management, the lack of advance notice posed broader public safety concerns. Coordinated communication between ITD and local law enforcement allows police departments to position officers strategically, alert dispatch centers about expected delays that could affect emergency response times, and communicate with the public about alternate routes and anticipated travel delays.
Donahue’s complaint underscores a broader issue facing Canyon County and the broader Treasure Valley region: the need for better coordination between state agencies and local law enforcement when major infrastructure work could disrupt traffic flow and emergency services. Advance notice allows departments to plan staffing, adjust response protocols, and provide public information that can reduce confusion and improve safety during high-traffic periods.
The weekend closure represents the type of routine maintenance and improvement work that ITD regularly performs on Interstate 84. However, the execution—particularly the simultaneous closure of two exits and the failure to notify local police—drew sharp criticism from a veteran law enforcement leader responsible for public safety across the county.
What Comes Next
The incident highlights the importance of inter-agency communication when state transportation projects affect local communities. Whether ITD will adjust its notification procedures for future closures or coordinate more closely with Canyon County Sheriff’s Office, Nampa Police Department, and Meridian Police Department in advance remains unclear. Local law enforcement leaders in the Treasure Valley will likely push for better coordination protocols to ensure that public safety agencies have adequate warning before major freeway closures occur.