Gov. Otter opens third I-84 westbound lane between Nampa and Meridian
BOISE - Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter joined
citizens, business leaders and government officials this afternoon to celebrate
the opening of new lanes on Interstate 84 between the Garrity and Meridian
interchanges. The project is improving safety, reducing congestion and creating
career-path jobs to stimulate Idaho's economy.
More than 100 people attended the ceremony and
watched as Governor Otter gave construction crews the signal to remove traffic
barrels off the interstate to open the new lanes.
Crews were unable to stripe the third I-84 eastbound lane due to inclement weather. Weather permitting, the lane is due to be striped Sunday night and opened to traffic by Monday morning's commute.
The project widened and reconstructed six miles of
I-84. It added a third lane in each direction and prepared the highway for a
fourth lane that will open in 2011. The $113 million project, which started
last year, is funded through federal bonds and is estimated to have created or
sustained 2,000 jobs. The third lanes from the Meridian Interchange to the Ten
Mile Overpass opened in August.
"This wider, safer, more efficient stretch of I-84
will help encourage not only Idaho's economic recovery but continued growth and
new opportunities throughout the Treasure Valley," Governor Otter said. "It
will help make our air cleaner while making our communities more competitive
for businesses that are expanding or looking to relocate."
Approximately one-fourth of Canyon County's
workforce commutes from Ada County, and about one-tenth of Ada County's workforce
commutes from Canyon County, according to the Idaho Department of Commerce.
Joining the Governor in the ceremony were Idaho Senate
Transportation Committee Chairman John McGee, State Senator Curt McKenzie,
State Senator Patti Anne Lodge, Nampa Mayor Tom Dale, Meridian Mayor Tammy de
Weerd, and Idaho Transportation Board Chairman Darrell Manning.
"I would like to thank Treasure Valley motorists
who drive the interstate daily and waited patiently for these improvements,"
McGee said. "Much of that wait was spent in daily bumper-to-bumper traffic."
One mile of the third lane will remain closed under the Ten Mile
Overpass until next spring to allow for construction of a new interchange at
that location.
The I-84 Garrity to Meridian widening
project is one of 13 projects to modernize I-84 from Nampa to east Boise that
began in 2006 and is expected to end in 2011.
Idaho Sand & Gravel and Knife River were the contractors. The
contract was finished on-time and on-budget.
Video/photos: Video clips and photos of the ceremony will be available on Oct. 30 after 4 p.m. for downloading from the Idaho Transportation Department's FTP site: ftp://ftp1.idaho.gov. Log on with the user name itdcommu and use the password W39gy7D2. For those who do not have FTP software, the video and photos can be retrieved from http://itd.idaho.gov/news
Radio: Audio clips from the Oct. 30 ceremony will be e-mailed directly to radio stations following the ceremony.