The highway continues north through Jackass Gulch and descends over 500 vertical feet (150 m) on the Freezeout Grade into the Emmett Valley.

The route was truncated at its current terminus in Emmett in 1955 when Highway 52 was extended on to its northern section heading toward New Plymouth.

[citation needed] While campaigning for a return to Congress in 1934, Robert McCracken died in an automobile accident on the highway in May, near Emmett.

[3] Firebird Raceway opened 57 years ago in 1968 on the west side of the highway, between Star and Emmett.

ITD is planning to conduct an environmental study on SH-16 from Emmett to SH-44 to look at potential expansion and improvements to the highway.