Troy Colson-KTVB

Nampa Mayor Tom Dale and ITD Board Chairman Frank Bruneel put up the final sign on the new Karcher Road interchange.

NAMPA -- After a year and a half of construction, Nampa's Karcher interchange is finally open.

This is a major development for Canyon County, relieving a lot of congestion and paving the way for access to a new shopping mall.

This $30 million project includes five bridges and five ramps - weaving their way on, off and over Interstate 84 and Highway 55 or Karcher Road.

It is a much anticipated project that should bring some traffic relief to the area.

"Traffic is like water, it finds the easiest route to go and it disperses. The more options you have, the fewer tie ups you'll have and congestion points you'll have," said Nampa Mayor Tom Dale.

Instead of a ribbon cutting today, Dale and others autographed the final road sign for the interchange and then installed it above the traffic lights marking Highway 55.

The roads were opened up to traffic around 5 p.m.