The Linder Road Overpass Project in Meridian has officially entered its second phase, with crews now working to build the new crossing over I-84 and connect Linder Road between Franklin and Overland roads. The milestone comes after the project's first phase wrapped up, and it marks the first public update on the long-watched roadway effort in more than a year.
Phase two focuses on constructing the overpass itself and finishing the roadway connection between Franklin and Overland, according to reporting from Idaho News 6, whose neighborhood reporter Kalkidan Meyer covers the Meridian area. The Ada County Highway District has said the project, coordinated with the Idaho Transportation Department and the City of Meridian, calls for a new four-lane overpass spanning Interstate 84. The agency's plans also include widening Linder Road between Franklin Road and the new overpass to two lanes in each direction with a center turn lane, along with multi-use pathways for pedestrians and bicyclists.
No Freeway Ramps, But Faster School Runs
Despite crossing directly over I-84, the overpass will not include freeway ramps — a design detail confirmed by BoiseDev, which reported the span will not connect to the interstate itself. Idaho News 6's reporting notes that decision falls to the Idaho Transportation Department, and that a separate potential interchange between Ten Mile and Meridian roads could create additional traffic problems on I-84 if it moves forward.
For families who currently have to drive around the freeway gap, the new connection could mean shorter school commutes. Meridian resident Matthew Chaney told Idaho News 6 that the contractor is required to keep both lanes open so nearby neighborhoods retain access to Franklin Road during construction, and he said the new connection would cut two miles from local families’ school commutes.
Longtime Resident Welcomes the Change
Not every part of the construction process has been smooth. Kelty Forman, who lives on Linder Road and told Idaho News 6 she's lived there her whole life and loves Meridian, said tree removal and construction work have at times made it difficult just to get into her own neighborhood. Still, she said she's long wanted Linder Road connected and is excited to see it finally happening.
The Ada County Highway District has acknowledged that access for nearby neighborhoods has been an ongoing concern during construction, per Idaho News 6's reporting. The agency's own project materials back that up: access to businesses and homes is meant to stay open throughout construction, and while Linder Road may occasionally see a reduced number of travel lanes, flaggers will be present to manage traffic.
Utility Work Continues Ahead of Winter
As of November 6, fiber utility work was ongoing along the corridor, with the contractor anticipating being back on site around November 16, according to an update posted on ACHD's project engagement page. Phase one, completed earlier, included prep work for the roadway leading up to the overpass along with improvements to the Linder Road and Overland Road intersection, as previously reported by BoiseDev, which noted that phase began in March 2025.
Timeline estimates for the full project have shifted depending on the source. Idaho News 6 reports ACHD now expects completion in fall 2027, while the highway district's own project update states work is expected to be complete in late 2027, with the schedule subject to change. That differs from an earlier forecast from the Idaho Statesman, which had reported the entire overpass was expected to be complete in summer 2027.
Cost estimates have also varied across reports. The Idaho Statesman previously put the project's estimated cost at $28 million across two phases, while BoiseDev reported ACHD had budgeted $27 million for the overpass. An earlier BoiseDev report from October 2023 noted the estimate had climbed from roughly $17.5 million to between $22 million and $23 million as designs were finalized.
Public Support Has Been Strong
Community sentiment toward the project appears largely favorable. In a 2023 public outreach survey cited by Idaho News 6, more than 70% of respondents said they supported the project, while around 20% disapproved, citing concerns about increased traffic, speed, and noise in a residential area. A separate October 2023 survey referenced by BoiseDev found that 73% of 208 respondents favored the project's design, up from 69% approval in an earlier round of feedback.
For now, residents along the corridor are left watching utility crews and construction equipment move through the neighborhood, with the promise of a finished overpass still roughly a year away by ACHD's own estimate. For people like Forman and Chaney, the disruption has come with a payoff they've waited years to see take shape.
