BLM delays opening of upper 8th Street to protect road surface
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BOISE, Idaho – The Bureau of Land Management, in cooperation with our Ridge to Rivers partners, will delay the seasonal opening of the upper 8th Street gate to full-sized vehicles in the Boise Foothills by one day to allow the road to dry out after the recent rain and snowfall. The gate is located 2.8 miles up the road from the Jim Hall Foothills Learning Center and will now open on Monday, May 16.
“We normally open the upper 8th Street gate each year on May 15, however with the unusual spring snowfall event we just had, opening the gate to heavy weekend vehicle use could lead to significant road damage,” said David Draheim, BLM Outdoor Recreation Planner. “After consulting with our Ridge to River partners and looking at the weather forecast, we decided it would be best to delay the gate opening until after the weekend.”
The annual seasonal closure applies to full-size vehicles and is in place from Dec. 1 to May 15, when the roadbed is typically wet, and damage can easily occur. The route remains open year-round for off-highway vehicles 50 inches or less in width, motorcycles, mountain bikes and all other non-motorized use.
The BLM appreciates the public’s cooperation in respecting the road closure and helping to protect resources. For more information, please contact the BLM Boise District Office at 208-384-3300.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.