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 on Saturday (Oct. 17).
Flaggers will direct traffic until early afternoon Saturday as traffic
transitions from the old bridge to the new bridge.
The
old bridge will be demolished beginning Friday, Oct. 23. Demolition is expected
to take up to three nights. During the nighttime demolition work I-84 will be closed
near the interchange. Motorists can use the on- and off-ramps to exit and
re-enter I-84 near the work area. Work hours are from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
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 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.
Motorists can expect overnight lane
closures on westbound I-84 between the Orchard and Vista interchanges through Friday (Oct. 23).
At least one lane will be open on
westbound I-84 from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. each night. Two lanes will be open during
the day.
Crews will be placing temporary pavement for a traffic shift
later this winter.
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.
One
lane will be closed overnight on eastbound I-84 between the Garrity Interchange
and Robinson Overpass, until Oct. 24. Crews are finishing paving work on the
widening project.
One
lane will be closed overnight on westbound I-84 on Monday (Oct. 19).
All
lanes will be open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays, and 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on
weekends.
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.
CANYON COUNTY
CALDWELL
- Indian Creek Bridges replacement
The Caldwell community will start to
notice marked progress in the next couple of weeks as work to improve the
structural integrity of two bridges over Indian Creek moves into the final
stages. The projects to replace bridges at 21st and 11th Avenues started in
June and are scheduled for completion in
November.
The site at 11th Avenue and Arthur will begin to take on the shape of an actual
bridge now that two new abutments are in place and crews start setting girders.
Vehicles continue to be detoured around the
intersection but pedestrian access to local business remains open. Signs are in
place to direct customers.
Work at the 21st Avenue structure is
progressing and crews are working to place the new bridge deck. 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.
WASHINGTON
COUNTY
CAMBRIDGE - Superior Street/Mill
Road improvements
Work on a project to improve Superior Street/Mill
Road at the north end of Cambridge is wrapping up. The project is expected to
finish by month's end.
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 setting the rest of the girders, and will work on pouring
intermediate diaphragms (to keep the girders in place/stabilize them), and work
on decking the bridge in preparation for pouring it at the end of October or beginning
of November. There may be intermittent 15-minute delays. Some of the deck pours
will be done at night and will require closures.
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.