Problem Statement:

The Northgate Interchange represents an unprecedented partnership between six public and private entities that will increase mobility and economic opportunity along the Interstate 15 corridor. This project has been in the works since 2005 when Pocatello Creek and US-91 north of I-86 was degraded to a Level of Service C/D. The Bannock Transportation Planning Organization’s long range plan predicted the largest growth and traffic change would be in the north part of the Portneuf Valley. The Environmental Assessment was also started in 2005 and approved in 2010. As development continued in the Northgate area, the private developer pledged to move forward with the needed roads as they were imperative to developing the land to make the master plan start to materialize. State code presented challenges to private entities conducting this work and being reimbursed. State actors chose to assume the risk and pledged to plan for the interchange, noting that the project could not be started until 2030 at best. Through communication, innovation, and compromise the six players were able to come to a unique agreement that would empower all players to feel a sense of ownership and contribution. The Northgate Interchange was completed 15 years ahead of what was thought to be possible.

Summary of Solution:

With all of the technological advances of the 21st Century, relationships are still the cornerstone of successful projects. Regardless of how sophisticated our ideas, design, or community need is, if funds are not available for a project it will not happen. The Northgate interchange in Pocatello is a visionary example of the power of innovation, if groups come together with a common goal.

What was once a futuristic pipedream of an interchange connecting the outskirts of Chubbuck with Pocatello is now a fully functioning reality thanks to a Public Private Partnership (P3). Through funding provided by: City of Pocatello, City of Chubbuck, Bannock County, Idaho Department of Transportation, Pocatello Development Authority, and Millennial Development, the Northgate Interchange was finished 15 years earlier than masterplans suggested it could be. The project cost was over 12 million dollars and took just over two years to complete. This project was made possible through the innovative cooperation of officials at the State, County and City levels as well as the private sector.

Labor, Equipment, Materials:

This project budget was over 12 million dollars.

Summary of Expenses:

This project budget was over 12 million dollars.

Savings/Benefit of this Solution:

It’s hard to quantify the savings of this approach. The project was completed 10 years earlier than projected without the public private partnership. If we estimate that construction costs go up by 3% annually, we can estimate that just with building material inflation total costs would have been over $16,000,000. With conservative estimates we project the public private partnership saved tax payers and private companies over 4 million dollars.