BOISE -- Uncertainty on Wall Street has the Idaho Transportation Department delaying the start of some highway projects scheduled to begin next year.

KTVB

A record number of Americans are expected to travel somewhere this holiday season.

The only project affected in southwest Idaho is the Orchard Interchange along Interstate 84.

Drivers will just have to make do for now, and be patient.

"We believe it's the cautious and right approach," said Jeff Stratten, ITD spokesman.

With the financial help of the Idaho Housing and Finance Association, ITD decided to wait on the sale of an already approved $116 million GARVEE bond.

"Now is not a good time to issue a bond. There's concerns about creeping interest rates, higher interest rates, as well as whether or not there would be sufficient buyers at this time," said Stratten.

So to play it safe Stratten says ITD will hold off selling the bond and delay awarding the bid for the Orchard Interchange project until they have the money in the bank.

Stratten says other states are in a cash crunch right now because they've started projects before they're funded, and Idaho doesn't want to be put in that kind of situation.

"As a result they're having to sell bonds at higher interest rates and lower amounts then they were hoping for," said Stratten.

Delaying, not canceling is the approach they're taking.

"We're hopeful that the financial markets will stabilize and we'll be able to issue that bond and keep the reconstruction of it on schedule," said Stratten.

And once that happens, construction can begin, just a little later than expected.

"The construction would have started next year, and it would have taken a couple of years to complete. The interchange clearly needs upgraded. Anyone who drives that everyday can understand that," said Stratten.

This project delay will not affect construction already underway and will not affect projects already contracted out.