Idaho Farmers Fear Road Damage to Impede Harvest

Southeastern Idaho farmers fear damage to a U.S. Interstate 86 exit near American Falls could impact the fall sugar beet harvest by forcing beet-laden trucks to take an inconvenient detour.

On Sept. 25, a truck carrying the base for a large wind turbine failed to exit the freeway, damaging the Exit 40 overchange bridge.

Repair work on the structure had just been completed in August from a similar accident — and the latest damage is even worse.

Traffic has been reduced to a single lane — to narrow for wide loads — and repair work won’t be finished before the end of November.

Officials say truck and machinery traffic to farms in Aberdeen is being redirected to the Exit 44 overchange, where they can double back to their original route.

Source: Idaho State Journal.