The Idaho Transportation Department scheduled Monday night, Nov. 9, as the start of work on widening State Highway 44 through Star, with the caveat that all work depends on weather. The first change isn't more lanes. It's fewer turns. Under ITD's plan for this phase, traffic between Cosmo Avenue and Moyle Avenue shifts to the north side of the highway and the center turn lane is removed. Every driveway on that stretch is limited to right turns. Left turns are allowed at just two cross streets, Seneca Springs Way and Plummer Road.
That's why a five-minute errand on State Street can take a little planning this winter. Driving through is about the same as before, just narrower. Getting into and out of the places along the road is what changes.
The Stretch, West to East
ITD's construction plans put the cross streets in this order, from west to east:
- Star Road, the west end of the overall project
- Cosmo Avenue, where the current traffic shift begins
- Seneca Springs Way, one of the two left-turn points
- Plummer Road, the other left-turn point
- Moyle Avenue, where the current traffic shift ends
The widening starts near Moyle because the SH-16/SH-44 interchange project already widened the highway east of there. This job runs west from that point to Star Road. ITD's October announcement calls it the last section of SH-44 in the area still to be widened.
So the restrictions cover the stretch closest to the new interchange. If you head toward Eagle and SH-16 every morning, you'll drive through it both ways.
Right In, Right Out
The City of Star's Nov. 5 notice lists the same traffic setup as ITD. The lanes are narrow and separated by tubular markers, with one lane open each way, and driveway approaches allow right turns only.
On a road with a center turn lane, either side of the street is a left turn away. Without one, the direction you're driving decides which side you can reach. Eastbound drivers can turn right into businesses on the south side. Westbound drivers can turn right into businesses on the north side. When you pull back out, you have to turn right and keep going the way you came in. To get to the other side of the road, use the left turns allowed at Seneca Springs Way or Plummer Road.
On a typical Saturday loop, the order of your stops now decides how many extra blocks you drive. Start with the stops on the side you're already driving on, and save the other side for your trip back.
ITD's project FAQ puts it plainly: business and local-road access stays open, but routes may change because of the turn restrictions.
The Stops Along W State Street
The Star Chamber of Commerce directory lists plenty of everyday stops with W State St addresses:
- Proof Craft Kitchen and Cocktails, 9759 W State St., Suite 105
- Taphouse Pub & Eatery, 9765 W State St.
- The Milled Olive, 9776 W State St.
- Sea Salt Creamery & Bakeshop, 9712 W State St.
- Rare Steakhouse, 9846 W State St.
- Star Café, 10883 W State St.
- Walkover Bagels, 11184 W State Street
Before you head out, check two things: whether your stop sits between Cosmo and Moyle, and which side of the highway its driveway is on. Inside that stretch, getting in and out works on the right-turn-only rules above. ITD says in its Nov. 6 release that access to local businesses stays open for the length of the work, so you can still reach every stop. Some just take a different route than you're used to.
Winter Is the Lighter Phase
The winter setup is the quieter part of the project. ITD's October announcement said early work would start this fall and most of the construction would begin next spring.
| Phase | What ITD has scheduled |
|---|---|
| Fall 2026 into winter | Utility relocation along the south side, irrigation work, roadway excavation, concrete work |
| Spring 2027 | Widening and paving continue |
| Fall/Winter 2027 | Construction complete, opening alongside the SH-16/SH-44 interchange |
ITD says the first phase is expected to last through the winter and that all work depends on weather and may be rescheduled. Most of the work happens during the day. Night work is also expected, which can mean overnight lane closures with flaggers and the sound of backup alarms on equipment. For homes near the highway, the nights are likely to change more than the commute.
ITD doesn't plan any full closures of SH-44. Partial lane closures will happen mostly at night, and at least one lane will stay open in each direction during the day.
Spring will bring the bigger stretch of work, and ITD has tied the end date to another project. The FAQ says this widening will open when the SH-16/SH-44 interchange opens. One contractor, Knife River, is building both, and ITD says that lets the two crews coordinate. ITD's SH-16 project page still shows that corridor under construction, with the full corridor expected to open in 2027.
The Center Lane Comes Back
The center turn lane removed for this phase is part of the finished road. ITD's plan widens SH-44 to five lanes: two travel lanes each way plus a center turn lane. It also replaces the road surface, moves utilities, and connects pedestrian pathways along the south side.
The FAQ also lists replacement ADA ramps and parts of a south-side pedestrian pathway built for future connections. A separate project still in development would add a 10- to 12-foot shared-use path on the south side for people walking and biking. ITD puts the construction cost of the current project at about $5.4 million.
When the work is done, every driveway on the stretch should be a left turn away again, now across a wider road. Until then, right turns and the two left-turn points at Seneca Springs and Plummer are how you get around.
Getting Updates as the Work Moves
Lane setups will change as the work moves through its stages, so ITD runs its own update channels for the project:
- Text 44WIDENING to 1-866-483-8422 for text updates
- Call the project line at 208-261-2443
- Email the project team at [email protected]
- Sign up for email updates through the SH-44 widening project page
ITD held its first drop-in meeting on Thursday, Oct. 22, at Liberty Hall in Star and plans more drop-in meetings during 2027. Those meetings are the place to ask about a particular driveway or block.
We live and work in the Treasure Valley too, and we'll keep an eye on how this stretch of State Street changes as the project moves into spring. If you have questions about Star or anywhere nearby, the team at Tina Richards Real Estate is glad to talk it through. Let's Connect.
