Exploratory drilling along U.S. Highway 20 from Idaho Falls to Rigby and pavement improvements north of Rexburg began Monday and are expected to last two weeks, according to a press release by the Idaho Transportation Department.

“Last year, we had three near miss occurrences as we were drilling on US-20 near Idaho Falls,” ITD Geologist Shawn Enright said. “We want people to be particularly aware so we can make sure everyone gets home at night and the work gets done too.”

Contractors will operate drill rigs near ramps, overpasses and canal crossings from Interstate 15 Exit 119 in Idaho Falls to Rigby to gather data for potentially widening US-20.

Ramp improvement work began on northbound Exit 337 and will progress northward.

Construction on Exits 338 and 339 will follow.

The Idaho Department of Transportation expects each closure to last only a few days and only for daylight hours.

In addition to the exit ramps, contractors will improve the worst pavement sections of US-20 north of Rexburg.

Construction updates are available at 511.Idaho.gov.