ITD plans 38 highway construction projects in eastern Idaho

RIGBY - The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) plans 38 highway construction projects that will help preserve highways and improve transportation for motorists in eastern Idaho this year.

Following are the scheduled projects, listed by county, in order of anticipated construction. The projects are designed to improve the ride and safety of motorists.

Bonneville County

Clark Hill to Swan Valley - Crews will repave 12 miles of U.S. 26 from Clark Hill to the Swan Valley Bridge. Between Clark Hill and Granite Hill, the contractor will use a new construction process called Stress Absorbing Layer of Straight Asphalt (SALSA), which involves shooting a layer of straight asphalt on the pavement and then applying a thin coat of rock chips. The SALSA process also includes an overlay of plant mix, which is a blend of asphalt and crushed rocks. This project will begin on Monday (April 13), weather permitting.

Anderson-Lincoln to Idaho 43 - Crews will resurface a three-mile stretch of U.S. 26 from the intersection of Anderson and Lincoln in Idaho Falls to Beaches Corner. The project will begin in late spring.

Eagle Rock Canal Bridge - Crews will resurface the Eagle Rock Canal Bridge east of the intersection of U.S. 26 and the Ririe business loop on U.S. 26. The project will be constructed this summer.

I-15 Road Closure Gates - ITD will install gates (crossing arms) at several interchanges on Interstate 15 in and north of Idaho Falls to prevent entry from the interchange during severe weather conditions. Gate locations will be the northbound and southbound on-ramps at Osgood, the southbound on-ramp at Roberts and the northbound on-ramp at Idaho Falls exit 119. Crews will install crossing arms similar to those at railroad crossings to expedite the closure of I-15 during severe storms. Work will take place this summer.

Bingham-Bonneville County Line to Idaho Falls - Crews will seal-coat 7.5 miles of I-15 from the Bingham-Bonneville county line to the U.S. 20 Interchange, Exit 119, in Idaho Falls. Seal-coating entails spraying liquid asphalt on the highway and spreading a layer of crushed rock over it. The purpose is to protect pavement from weathering and to provide a semi-rough surface for improved vehicle traction. After seal-coating, crews paint yellow centerlines, white edge stripes and apply other pavement markings. Work will take place this summer.

Rainey Creek Bridge - Crews will replace the Rainey Creek Bridge on Idaho 31 in Swan Valley this fall and winter.

Idaho Falls to Ririe - Crews will reconstruct a 10-mile stretch of U.S. 26 between Idaho Falls and Ririe. The project will replace the existing two-lane highway with four lanes and will add center- and right-turn lanes at county road intersections. Construction will be from Beaches Corner to the intersection of the Ririe business loop. This project will start in the fall, with most work to take place next year.

Butte County

INL to Butte City - Crews will repave and seal-coat 19 miles of U.S. 20-26 from the junction of U.S. 20-26 (near the Idaho National Laboratory) to Butte City. Crews will use a type of construction known as cement recycled asphalt base stabilization (CRABS), which involves pulverizing the road surface and then adding cement to the old asphalt. The mixture then is compacted on the roadbed and used as the base for a layer of new asphalt plant mix. The project will begin Monday (April 13), weather permitting, and be completed by fall.

Junction of U.S. 20-26 and Idaho 33 to Howe - Crews will seal-coat 16 miles of Idaho 33 from the junction of U.S. 20-26 and Idaho 33 to Howe this summer.

East Darlington Bridge - Crews will replace the East Darlington Bridge that spans the Big Lost River about one mile east of Darlington along U.S. 93 this fall.

Clark County

Idaho 22 to West of Dubois - Crews will finish a project started last year by seal-coating Idaho 22 west of Dubois this summer.

Pleasant Valley - Crews will replace guardrail on I-15 from Pleasant Valley, which is eight miles south of the Montana state line, to the Humphrey Interchange about two miles north of Pleasant Valley. Replacing existing guardrail reduces snowdrift problems caused by the guardrail. Work will take place in late summer.

Custer County

Watts Bridge - Crews will finish the new Watts Bridge on U.S. 93 approximately 10 miles north of Challis and remove the old bridge. The project will be completed by fall.

Fremont County

St. Anthony City Streets - Crews will resurface the U.S. 20 business loop in and northeast of St. Anthony this summer. This project will include milling the existing surface, placing a reinforcing paving fabric and then overlaying the fabric with a layer of asphalt plant mix. Crews also will seal-coat the new pavement.

Ashton City Streets - Crews will resurface U.S. 20 and Idaho 47 (Main Street) in Ashton this summer. The project also will include milling the existing surface, placing a reinforcing paving fabric, overlaying the fabric with a layer of asphalt plant mix and seal-coating the new pavement.

Mesa Falls Scenic Byway - Crews will seal-coat the 16-mile Mesa Falls Scenic Byway from Idaho 47 to the junction of U.S. 20 this summer.

Henrys Lake Flat Passing Lanes - Crews will construct passing lanes on northbound U.S. 20 between Island Park Lodge and Red Rock Road and on southbound U.S. 20 between the Henrys Fork Outlet Bridge and the junction of Idaho 87. The contractor will construct the lanes this summer.

Madison-Fremont County Line to South St. Anthony (Exit 344) - Crews will resurface a 3.3-mile stretch of U.S. 20 between the Madison-Fremont county line and south St. Anthony, Exit 344. Work will take place this summer and fall.

Ashton Hill to Island Park - Between the top of Ashton Hill and Island Park, crews will expose pavement on U.S. 20 to sunlight by trimming trees along stretches of the roadway to reduce ice buildup in shady areas during the winter. Trimming will take place this summer and fall.

Fremont-Teton Counties

Railtrail - Crews will replace four minor bridges, install planking and handrail on three major bridges and pave 200 feet on both sides of the bridges along a 29-mile bike/pedestrian trail that previously was the railway line between Ashton and Tetonia. The contractor will complete the project this summer.

Jefferson County

Osgood to Roberts, Sage Junction to Hamer - Crews will repave, seal-coat and install rumble strips (raised or grooved patterns placed primarily along paved shoulders as a safety feature) along eight miles of southbound lanes on I-15 from the Osgood Interchange to the Roberts Interchange and along seven miles of northbound lanes on I-15 from the Sage Junction Interchange to the Hamer Interchange. Work will be completed this summer.

Butte Market Lake Canal Bridge - Crews will resurface the Butte Market Lake Canal Bridge just south of the Roberts exit (Exit 135) on northbound lanes of I-15 this summer.

800 East to Idaho 28 - Crews will resurface, seal-coat and widen shoulders of a five-mile stretch of Idaho 33 between 800 East in Jefferson County and the junction of Idaho 28 west of Mud Lake. Work will take place this summer.

Rigby High School to Yellowstone Highway - Crews will widen Idaho 48 to three lanes, add a right-turn bay to the high school entrance, include a bike lane on both sides of the street and install curb, gutter and sidewalk along the busy route in Rigby. Work will take place this summer and fall.

Idaho 48 Overpass in Rigby - Crews will resurface the Idaho 48 Overpass on U.S. 20 in Rigby this construction season.

Burgess Canal Bridge (U.S. 20) - Crews will resurface the Burgess Canal Bridge on U.S. 20 this summer or fall. The bridge is approximately one-quarter of a mile north of the south Rigby interchange, Exit 320, of U.S. 20 in Rigby.

Burgess Canal Bridge (U.S. 20 business loop) - Crews will resurface the Burgess Canal Bridge on the U.S. 20 business loop this summer or fall. The bridge is approximately one-fifth of a mile northwest of the south Rigby interchange, Exit 320, of U.S. 20 on the business loop in Rigby.

Jefferson-Madison Counties

Sage Junction to Henrys Fork Bridge - Crews will repave and seal-coat a 15-mile stretch of Idaho 33 between Sage Junction and Henrys Fork Bridge using the CRABS paving process. The project will begin this spring and be completed by fall.

Lemhi County

Baker to Salmon - Crews will resurface and seal-coat a nine-mile stretch of Idaho 28 between Baker and Salmon this summer. The contractor will use a process called Cold In-place Recycling (CIR), which involves removing, crushing and mixing pavement materials in place without heat. Recycling agent is added to the mixture, which is then laid and compacted.

Salmon Pedestrian Bridge - Crews will finish a bicycle/pedestrian bridge over the east channel of the Salmon River south of the existing U.S. 93 bridge in Salmon by fall.

Madison County

Rexburg Interchange Lighting - Crews will install light poles at the three interchanges on U.S. 20 in Rexburg. Work will take place this spring and summer. Lights will illuminate on- and off-ramps, where they intersect with state and local roads.

Sugar City-Rexburg-Madison County Bike Path - Crews will complete the bike/pedestrian path between Sugar City and Rexburg, along Idaho 33 this summer. They will pave approaches to the Teton Island Canal Bridge and finish the fence that parallels the west side of the path.

Rexburg to Sugar City - Crews will resurface a four-mile stretch of Idaho 33 between 2nd East in Rexburg and the intersection of 7th East and Idaho 33, north of Sugar City. The project will include milling the existing surface, placing a reinforcing paving fabric and then overlaying the fabric with a layer of asphalt plant mix. Work will take place in the fall.

Teton County

Tetonia to Driggs - Crews will seal-coat nine miles of Idaho 33 from the junction of Idaho 32, which is two miles northwest of Tetonia, to Driggs this summer.

Victor to Wyoming - Crews will seal-coat six miles of Idaho 33 from Victor to the Wyoming state line this summer.

Pack Saddle Road - Crews will reconstruct a 1.7-mile stretch of Pack Saddle Road near Idaho 33, widening it by six feet. ITD will administer the project for Teton County.

Trail Creek Bridges and Moose Creek Bridge - Crews will replace two Trail Creek Bridges and one Moose Creek Bridge on Idaho 33 in Teton Valley this summer and fall.

Slope Stabilization

Crews will remove loose rock from and install wire retaining mesh on slopes along highways in eastern Idaho this year.

Caution Advised

ITD urges motorists to drive with caution near construction zones. Orange highway signs with black letters or symbols and orange flags indicate construction activity, even if the work cannot be observed immediately.

Drivers should anticipate merging traffic, construction equipment, flaggers, pilot cars and can experience uneven surfaces in construction areas.

The Idaho State Police reminds motorists that traffic violations in work zones will be fined at double the rate of violations elsewhere.

Road Conditions

For construction information on state highways, access the Idaho Traveler Services Web site at 511.idaho.gov, or dial 5-1-1 from phones within Idaho. Outside Idaho dial toll-free (888) 432-7623. Reports are updated as road conditions change.