Idaho Transportation Department News Release
October 9, 2009

Contact:
Reed Hollinshead
Public Information Specialist 
(208) 334-8881 

June Sparks
Public Information Specialist 
(208) 334-8003 


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Southwest Idaho highway construction report for Oct. 9-16

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.

Motorists will begin driving on the new Orchard Street Bridge in mid-October. The old bridge will be demolished in late October.

 

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.

 

Between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. Thursday through Saturday (Oct. 8-10) at least one lane will be open in each direction on I-84 near the Orchard Interchange while crews work on the bridge deck.

 

Construction is expected to be complete in spring 2010.

 

BOISE - Interstate 84, Vista Avenue Interchange Reconstruction*

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

 

The speed limit on I-84 is 55 mph. Watch for trucks entering and exiting the construction zone.

 

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

 

Between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., Thursday through Saturday morning (Oct. 8-10), at least one lane will be open in each direction at night on I-84 between the Cole and Orchard interchanges while crews install guardrail, place sand barrels and remove lights.

 

The speed limit is 55 mph in the project area on I-84.

 

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 late October 2009.

 

Westbound I-84 traffic will be shifted from temporary to permanent lanes Sunday night (Oct. 11), marking a milestone in the project to widen I-84 between Nampa and Meridian.

 

Westbound I-84 will be reduced to one lane from 10 p.m. Sunday to 5 a.m. Monday during the shift.

 

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.

 

The speed limit has been reduced to 35 mph on Ten Mile Road between Franklin and Overland roads. Motorists should watch for trucks traveling in the area.

 

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

ITD will 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: Late 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 wrapping up north from the State Street intersection (Idaho 44) to the overhead message board located just beyond Shadow Valley Golf Course. Paving is finishing north from Beacon Light Road. The project is expected to finish Oct. 14.


Working hours are primarily 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday
to minimize interference with traffic. However, they may be extended for the last few weeks of the project due to inclement weather.


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.

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


CANYON COUNTY
CALDWELL - Indian Creek Bridges replacement

Two companion projects to improve the structural integrity of two bridges over Indian Creek is moving into the final weeks and is scheduled for completion in November. The projects to replace bridges at 21st and 11th Avenue started in June.


Crews at 11th Avenue and Arthur will complete work on the abutments for the new bridge this weekend. Once the new abutments are in place the dams and pumps that diverted water from the creek during construction will be removed making for a much quieter work zone.  Vehicles continue to be detoured around the intersection but pedestrian access to local business remains open and signs are in place to direct customers.


Work at the 21st Avenue bridge is progressing and crews have set the stringers that will be the supporting backbone of the second half of the new bridge. Work to place the new deck will begin in the next week. Traffic remains shifted to the new half of the structure while work to finish the deck on the second half of the bridge is completed.


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.


When construction is complete the new bridge will have 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.


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
PAYETTE - 7th Avenue North improvement
7th Avenue North has re-opened to traffic on a project to improve about one-half mile of 7th Avenue North in Payette, leading to McCain Middle School and the Western Idaho Community Action Partnership (WICAP) Head Start.

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

Irrigation-related work cannot be done until water leaves the canal, so some final work cannot be completed until October or November.

Knife River is the contractor on this $1.5 million project.

WASHINGTON COUNTY
CAMBRIDGE - Superior Street/Mill Road improvements
Paving is expected to begin Tuesday (Oct. 13) on a project to improve Superior Street/Mill Road at the north end of Cambridge. The project is expected to finish in late October.

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 roadway ballast section is constructed, and concrete work (sidewalk, drop inlets, curbs) should be completed. Work on the bridge back wall and sidewalk is expected to be completed in a few weeks.


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.


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.


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

The project is expected to finish by late October.

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.

The contractor is currently working on extending the work bridge, and is expected to begin to set girders on Monday (Oct. 5).

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 January.

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.
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