Idaho Falls approves construction agreement for four EV charging stations

Idaho Falls is moving ahead with construction of four public electric-vehicle charging stations after the city approved an agreement with Alpine Construction Management worth up to $1,951,430.80.

The agreement, approved March 12, covers construction under a Federal Highway Administration Charging and Fueling Infrastructure grant. The contract amount includes a 10% contingency, giving the city room to address eligible construction costs that arise during the work.

Idaho Falls Power is responsible for the project, which is intended to expand charging access along city corridors. The city solicited bids, and Alpine Construction Management was identified as the lowest responsive, responsible bidder.

How the project is funded

The broader grant totals $3,753,570. Federal funding accounts for $3,002,856, while the recipient share is $750,714. The arrangement means the charging-station project is being financed through a federal-local partnership rather than entirely with federal money.

Project materials represent a separate major portion of the budget. Approximately $2.3 million was allocated for materials, while construction was budgeted at approximately $1.4 million. Blink Network previously received approval to supply the charging-station materials, and the city agenda said those materials had been received.

The construction agreement’s not-to-exceed amount is higher than the approximate construction budget because it includes the 10% contingency. It is separate from the materials component and should not be treated as the total cost of the entire project.

What changes for Idaho Falls

Once built and placed into service, the four stations will add public EV-charging capacity in Idaho Falls. That gives drivers another piece of local transportation infrastructure as electric-vehicle use expands and as the city continues work on projects affecting major travel corridors.

The city’s March 12 council agenda identifies the facilities as City of Idaho Falls corridor charging stations. It does not list the stations’ exact addresses or a final date when they will begin operating.

The charging project comes as Idaho Falls and state transportation officials also review a separate mobility project at the US-26 and Hitt Road intersection. The Idaho Transportation Department says construction on that project could begin in fall 2026. The intersection work is not part of the charging-station agreement, but it provides additional context for infrastructure changes planned around Idaho Falls.

What happens next

With the construction agreement approved, Alpine Construction Management can proceed under the city’s contract for the four stations. Idaho Falls Power and the city will still need to complete the construction and bring the equipment into operation.

The approval follows the city’s 2024 decision to accept the federal charging and fueling grant. The latest action shifts the project from grant approval and equipment procurement toward construction, while leaving the final operating date to be determined.