October 23, 2009

Contact:

Reed Hollinshead

Public Information Specialist 

(208) 334-8881 

June Sparks

Public Information Specialist 

(208) 334-8003 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

UPDATE: Old Orchard Street Bridge coming down tonight (Friday, Oct. 23)

BOISE - When demolition crews take down the old five-span Orchard Interchange tonight (Friday, Oct. 23), it will be the first of three major bridge structures along I-84 to be removed over the course of the next three months. The Ten Mile bridge will be next in November, followed by the Vista Interchange scheduled for December.

"This is a historic amount of construction on I-84," says GARVEE Program Manager Jason Brinkman. "Each demolition will involve coordinated traffic changes for motorists, and the work will be highly visible to the thousands of commuters who use the corridor." Brinkman says when complete, the projects will greatly reduce congestion on the interstate.

The demolition of the Orchard bridge will begin at 10 p.m. Friday and will require up to three nights to complete. During each night, I-84 will be closed under the Orchard bridge. Motorists will exit and re-enter I-84 using the off- and on-ramps. Flaggers will direct motorists.

Closure times will be different each night:

•     Friday, Oct. 23 to Saturday, Oct. 24 from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
•     Saturday, Oct. 24 to Sunday, Oct. 25 from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m.
•     Sunday, Oct. 25 to Monday, Oct. 26 from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. (at least one lane will be open in each direction).

When complete in spring 2010, the new Orchard Street interchange will have eight lanes, longer turn lanes and longer, wider on- and off-ramps. A section of the new bridge opened to traffic on October 17.

McAlvain Group of Companies, Inc. is the contractor for the $15.1 million project. The project is funded through the GARVEE Transportation Program, which uses Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicle (GARVEE) bonds to expedite interstate improvements.

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NOTE TO MEDIA: ITD will capture video footage of the bridge demolition, which will be available from our FTP site for download by noon Saturday (Oct. 24). Download from ftp://ftp1.idaho.gov. Log on with the user name itdcommu and use the password W39gy7D2.

Media representatives are invited to observe the Orchard Street bridge demolition on Friday. ITD has arranged a space in the project area for the media to take photos, video and interviews. For safety reasons this is the only location where the media will be allowed within the project area. To reserve a time slot, call Reed Hollinshead at 334-8881. Closed-toe shoes are required.

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