Meridian presses Ada County Highway District to prioritize Locust Grove corridor amid limited ACHD capacity

City transportation staff presented Meridian’s recommended submittal to the Ada County Highway District (ACHD) five‑year plan for 2027–2031 and described a Transportation Commission recommendation to advance a Locust Grove segment (Victory–Amity) from the prior No. 7 to No. 1 because a bridge design is advancing that creates an opportunity for coordinated work.

Councilmembers debated whether projects already under construction (notably the Lindner Road overpass) should be removed from the active priority list or marked as "under construction" rather than merely moved down. Several councilmembers urged the city to emphasize corridor continuity — for example, prioritizing Locust Grove from Fairview to Ustick or combining intersection improvements with roadway segments — and to press ACHD on design choices such as building an interim three‑lane bridge versus preserving right‑of‑way for a future five‑lane configuration.

Staff said ACHD generally programs a small subset of submitted projects (the top three receive the greatest attention) and that construction costs and constrained funding have led to a smaller overall ACHD program. Council asked staff to return in two weeks with a refined list and suggested language for a cover letter to ACHD clarifying Meridian’s priorities and design expectations. No formal council action to change Meridian’s submission was taken; staff will prepare an updated recommendation for council review.