BOISE - The Five Mile bridge between Franklin and Overland over I-84 will be resurfaced and repaired in a project beginning at 9 a.m.
Monday (July 13), the Idaho Transportation Department announced. The project is expected to finish by August 3.
On Monday morning after the work commute, the bridge will be closed as crews set up traffic control and complete survey work. On Tuesday morning, initial work on the bridge deck will begin.
In addition to the closure of the bridge itself, there will also be
intermittent overnight (10 p.m. to 5 a.m.) closures or restrictions to
the I-84 lanes under the bridge for the safety of the traveling public
when work is taking place directly above those areas. There are four
lanes in each direction on the interstate under the bridge, and at
least two lanes will remain open.
To expedite repairs, the bridge will be completely closed for a period of about three weeks, from about 500 feet back of each the approaches on each side. This "get in, get
out" schedule includes several benefits:
- Construction is reduced from 40 days to approximately 25 days or fewer.
- Full flow of traffic is restored nearly two weeks earlier than if the bridge were to remain open.
- The finished roadway surface is constructed in one efficient process.
- A
cost savings is expected. By closing the bridge, standard construction
costs such as temporary traffic signals, and the need for flaggers, are
automatically eliminated.
The project will rehabilitate the bridge deck, repair deteriorated
pavement, extend the life of the structure and provide a smoother ride
for motorists.
Additional improvements (such as additional travel lanes, bike lanes or
sidewalks) are not planned as part of this project. Improvements of
that magnitude would require total replacement of the bridge structure,
and funding for such an extensive project is not currently available.
The Five Mile Bridge, built in 1966, carries more than 18,000 vehicles
a day. By 2031, average daily traffic is projected to exceed 19,250.
The bridge is part of a heavily-traveled north-south corridor in west
Boise, adjacent to residential, retail and business centers, making it
an important transportation link in the area.
Trinity Construction of Boise is the contractor for this $275,000 project.