Southwest Idaho highway construction report for Sept. 18-25

BOISE - The following projects are part of the GARVEE Transportation Program in southwest Idaho, which uses funds from Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicle (GARVEE) bonds to expedite highway projects.

BOISE - Interstate 84, Orchard Street Interchange
Work continues on a project to reconstruct the Orchard Street Interchange in Boise.

Orchard Street north of I-84 is reduced to one lane in each direction with a center turn lane. The lane restrictions begin at Malad Street and end just before the westbound off-ramp. The restrictions are in place continuously until late September.

On Friday (Sept. 18) from 9 to 11 p.m. Orchard Street will have one lane open in each direction, with no center turn lane, while crews install a storm drain. Flaggers will direct traffic during the work hours.

On Monday (Sept. 21), motorists exiting eastbound I-84 will use a temporary off-ramp starting at 10 p.m. and continuing until 5 a.m. Tuesday (Sept. 22). One lane will be open on the temporary off-ramp.

The speed limit on I-84 is 55 mph and shoulders are restricted in the project area. The speed limit on surrounding roadways (Orchard Street, Wright Street, Victory Road) is 25 mph. ITD advises motorists to be cautious of trucks and equipment.

Construction is expected to be complete in spring 2010.

BOISE - Interstate 84, Vista Avenue Interchange Reconstruction*

Work is under way to rebuild the interchange to reduce congestion and accommodate future I-84 lanes.

On Friday (Sept. 18), eastbound I-84 (under the Vista Interchange) will be closed from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. while crews set girders. Motorists can exit and enter I-84 using the eastbound on- and off-ramps.

Westbound I-84 will be closed from 10 p.m. Saturday (Sept. 19) to 7 a.m. Sunday (Sept. 20) for the same work. Motorists can exit and enter I-84 using the westbound on- and off-ramps. Flaggers will direct motorists through the area.

Beginning Sunday (Sept. 20), I-84 will have one lane open in each direction between the Broadway and Vista interchanges. These lane restrictions will continue until the following Sunday (Sept. 27).

Flaggers will direct traffic through the intersection of Vista Avenue and Airport Way/Wright Street from 10 p.m. Wednesday (Sept. 23) until 5:30 a.m. Thursday (Sept. 24). Crews will shut down and remove the old traffic signal at this intersection and activate a new signal.

On Thursday (Sept. 24) at 10 p.m. the old signal will be shut down and removed at the intersection of Vista Avenue and Elder Street/Sunrise Rim. Flaggers will direct traffic at this intersection until 5:30 a.m. Friday (Sept. 25) while crews activate the new signal.

Construction is expected to be complete in fall 2010.

* Design for the project was funded by GARVEE, but project construction is funded through the federal stimulus program, created to generate jobs and help boost Idaho's economy while upgrading our foundation for future economic growth.

BOISE - Interstate 84, Cole Road to Broadway Avenue widening

ITD will rebuild and widen east- and westbound I-84 between the Cole and Broadway interchanges in Boise. When complete, the interstate will have four lanes in each direction.

Crews will begin placing barrels and temporary guardrail on Monday (Sept. 21) near the Broadway Interchange. The speed limit will be 55 mph in the project area.

This project is expected to be complete in summer 2011.

WEST TREASURE VALLEY - Interstate 84, Garrity to Meridian widening

ITD is adding a third east- and westbound lane to I-84 between Nampa and Meridian. The first 2.5 miles of the third lane opened near the Meridian Interchange in August 2009. The remainder is expected to open in November 2009.

The I-84 speed limit is 55 mph during construction.

MERIDIAN - Interstate 84, Ten Mile Interchange construction

Work began in late July to replace the current Ten Mile Overpass with an interchange with on- and off-ramps. This project includes widening Ten Mile Road and constructing two undercrossings for local roads north and south of I-84.

Crews are driving steel piles into the ground to support the interchange and two undercrossings. Pile driving operations are noisy and are only allowed between 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. During the week of Monday, Sept. 21, the pile driving operation will be located off Ten Mile Road, north of I-84.

Construction is expected to be complete in summer 2011.

In addition, this GARVEE project will begin in the fall:

NAMPA - Interstate 84, Garrity Bridge/11th Ave. to Garrity

Replace two bridges in the Garrity Interchange with a single, wider bridge to support additional lanes on the interstate. The project will construct a third east- and westbound lane on I-84 through the Garrity Interchange.
Est. Start: Fall 2009

Est. Completion: Winter 2010

Following is an update on non-GARVEE state highway construction projects in southwest Idaho.

ADA COUNTY
BOISE - Idaho 55 resurfacing, State Street to Overhead Message Board
A resurfacing project on Idaho 55 is under way north from the State Street intersection (Idaho 44) to the overhead message board located just beyond Shadow Valley Golf Course.

A majority of the work will take place overnight from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m to minimize interference with traffic.

Milling (grinding was complete Tuesday (Sept. 15), and paving began Wednesday (Sept. 16). The speed limit has been raised from 35 mph to 45 mph.

The pavement in this stretch is rough and rutted. The resurfacing process will extend the life of the roadway and create a smoother ride for motorists.

About an inch and a half of the existing pavement is being milled off the surface, then replaced with new material in an overlay.

The 5.5-mile corridor shifts from as few as two lanes to as many as six. At least one lane in each direction will be maintained throughout the project. The traffic pattern for the corridor will change several times throughout the life of the project, which is expected to be completed in early October.

Knife River of Boise is the contractor for this $1.4 million project.

CANYON COUNTY
CALDWELL - Indian Creek Bridges replacement

Crews are working extended hours, and pile driving is continuing.

Traffic is being detoured around the 11th and Arthur intersection because the old structure has been removed, exposing Indian Creek. Business access remains open and signs are in place to direct customers.

Crews have completed installation of the bridge deck for the first phase of the 21st Avenue bridge over Indian Creek and shifted traffic to the new structure.

Removal of the existing 21st Avenue bridge and construction of the new concrete bridge is being completed in two phases. During the first phase, the east portion of the bridge was removed and reconstructed, and traffic was routed onto the existing bridge. During the second phase, traffic has been shifted to the completed portion of the new bridge while the other half is reconstructed.

The bridge is being widened to four lanes (two lanes in each direction) to better serve the well-traveled route between Interstate 84 and The College of Idaho. Two lanes of traffic are being maintained during construction and business access on 21st remains open. Temporary signs are in place to direct customers.

These projects will improve their structural integrity and extend the life of the roadway. Construction on both bridges is expected to be complete in November 2009.

Braun-Jensen of Payette is the contractor on this $2.3 million project. This is a Local Highway Technical Assistance Council project sponsored by the city of Caldwell.

PAYETTE COUNTY
NEW PLYMOUTH - west city limits to Jct. Idaho 72 resurfacing
Resurfacing through New Plymouth is under way on the portion of U.S. 30 from the west end of town to the junction with Idaho 72. The work is anticipated to be complete by mid-October.

Milling started near the Idaho 72 junction and is headed west through town. Milling (grindong) work is nearly complete, after which crews will begin pulverizing the next layer of pavement.

Motorists can expect lane closures during the day. One lane will remain open through the project with flaggers and pilot cars used to guide traffic through the work zone.

The top layer of pavement in the two-mile section will be milled off. The CRABS (Cement Recycled Asphalt Base Stabilization) method of resurfacing will then place a new layer of pavement on the surface. Guardrail also will be upgraded during the project.

Nampa Paving & Asphalt Co. is the contractor on this $716,000 project.

PAYETTE - 7th Avenue North improvement
A project is ongoing to improve about one-half mile of 7th Avenue North in Payette, which leads to McCain Middle School and the Western Idaho Community Action Partnership (WICAP) Head Start. The construction project extends from 11th to 18th streets on 7th Avenue and crosses U.S. 95.

Re-striping has been completed and the detour removed. Caution is encouraged as some remaining items are being finished.

The road is being rebuilt and widened with new curbs, gutters and pedestrian ramps per ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) standards.

The canal bridge is about 500 feet from the intersection. Improvements in this project include wider lanes over the top of the bridge, with five-foot sidewalks and bike lanes added on each side.

Knife River is the contractor on this $1.5 million project. Irrigation-related work cannot be done until water leaves the canal, however, so some final work cannot be completed until October or November.

VALLEY COUNTY
DONNELLY - Main Street resurfacing
The project is progressing rapidly, and is expected to conclude by the end of the month.

This half-mile project consists of adding a left-turn bay onto Roseberry Street (milepost 131) and a two-way left-turn (center turn) lane through town, starting at Boulder Creek Bridge. The project also includes minor sidewalk additions, drainage improvements and traffic-access control.

The downtown section will be five lanes wide, and includes parking on each side. In addition, there will be new curb and gutter on each side and a new storm-drain system that includes underground pipe and ditches.

Crews will work from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 7 a.m. to noon on Fridays. No weekend work is expected. There are no length, weight or width load restrictions on the project.

Flaggers will be on hand throughout work hours to assist traffic and the public in and out of businesses and residences in the project vicinity. The contractor is required to maintain two-way traffic at night and on weekends.

Valley Paving & Asphalt of Cottonwood, Idaho, is the contractor for this $975,000 project.

WASHINGTON COUNTY
CAMBRIDGE - Superior Street/Mill Road improvements
A project to improve Superior Street/Mill Road at the north end of Cambridge is under way.

This project, off the state highway system, involves improving 1,300 feet of roadway and replacing the existing bridge on Rush Creek with a new single-span bridge.

The old bridge was removed Aug. 5 and work has begun on the new bridge.

The north portion is excavated, and bridge stringers are scheduled for delivery and placement on Monday (Sept. 21). At this point, paving is still to

To improve drainage, the two-lane roadway is going to be paved curb-to-curb, with curb, gutter, parking stalls and sidewalk work included.

The contractor intends to keep the south half of Superior Street open to through traffic and close off the north half (adjacent to the removed bridge) to all except local traffic.

Crews will work an 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule Monday through Friday. No weekend or holiday work is expected.

Knife River (Boise) is the contractor on this $922,000 project.

Although ITD is administering the contract, the project itself comes under the jurisdiction of the Local Highway Technical Advisory Council (LHTAC). The city of Cambridge is the local sponsor of this project and a financial contributor.

The project is expected to finish in late October.

MIDVALE HILL - rest area improvement project
A project to upgrade the rest area on U.S. 95 at Midvale Hill is under way.

This project will rehabilitate the existing rest area - built in 1987 - and caretaker facilities, create additional truck parking, and include other repairs. The rest room building is being completely reconstructed.

The rest area will be closed during this project, and signs will be posted in Cambridge and Weiser to announce the closure. No temporary facilities are planned during this work.

Exterior work is complete on the restroom building, volunteer enclosure and storage building, with roofing still to come. Electrical and mechanical system installation is 75 percent complete in the restroom and storage buildings. Striping of the main parking areas has been completed.

Concrete flatwork, sidewalk, and curb and gutter is complete. Paving of the road and parking areas also is under way.

WF Construction & Sales LLC of Meridian is the contractor on this $1.4 million project.

The project is expected to finish by late November/early December.

WEISER - Snake River Bridge replacement
The Snake River Bridge on the U.S. 95 Spur in Weiser is being replaced with a wider structure. The bridge connects Annex, Ore., to Weiser.

Bridge closures associated with drliing shafts and pouring concrete are complete. The next round of closures are slated for October, for concrete deck pours.

Crews built one half of the new bridge and switched traffic to that section. Only one lane of traffic can safely pass over the new bridge section. To accommodate traffic crossing over the bridge in opposite directions, portable signals are being used.

The right and left ramps on the Idaho side of the bridge are closed. Traffic must follow the detour to access Old Highway 70. In addition, any traffic 12 feet or wider and/or taller than 14 feet 2 inches will need to detour through Payette.

Both abutments on the Idaho side of the bridge have been finished.

The original bridge was built in 1903, with an additional span added in 1911. Traffic signals were added in 1949. The bridge was replaced in the 1950s - that's the one being replaced in this project. Once completed, the bridge will be 16 feet wider and able to carry greater traffic volumes. The highway on both sides of the bridge also will be reconstructed.

New curb, gutter and sidewalks are being reconstructed on the Idaho side of the bridge.

The speed limit is reduced to 25 mph on the Oregon side of the bridge.

Sletten Construction of Boise is the contractor on this $10 million project. The project is expected to be completed by winter. It originally was slated for completion in 2010, but crews are ahead of schedule.

ITD and the Idaho State Police caution motorists to slow down and pay attention when driving in work zones, where increased speeding fines and other penalties apply. Motorists are encouraged to plan ahead and dial 5-1-1 or visit 511.idaho.gov for information on the state highway or interstate system.