Untitled Document

Rockfall mitigation project to result in closures
of up to 90 minutes on weekdays, beginning Sept. 20

A safety project to remove loose rock and secure a steep slope above U.S. 95 will result in significant daytime closures at the top of White Bird Grade, beginning Sept. 20.

The highway will be closed to all vehicles for intervals up to 90 minutes on weekdays between 7:45 a.m. and 7 p.m. for rockfall mitigation. Closure periods are scheduled to accommodate U.S. Postal Service mail trucks and local school bus schedules.

U.S. 95 winds along steep rock slopes south of Grangeville. The segment, completed in 1964, is known as White Bird Grade and frequently is the victim of rockfall, rockslides and occasional landslides. The corridor is 2,200 feet long and is overshadowed by rock faces as high as 180 feet.

Midwest Rockfall Inc., of Henderson, Colo., specialists in rockfall mitigation, will begin removing loose and hazardous rocks from the slopes on Sept. 20. The process is expected to take about 20 days. It is the first part of a 105-day contract, the remainder of which will be done in the spring of 2012.

That future work will include rock bolting, tree removal, excavation, installation of rock dowels, installation of cable net slope protection, installation of draped mesh slope protection and “shotcrete.”

Unforeseen circumstances could alter the exact opening and closing times, but the Idaho Transportation Department and the contractor will do everything possible to follow the schedule. Signs will be posted on both ends of the project to advise motorists of the delays.

Traffic will be unrestricted from approximately 7 p.m. to 7:45 a.m., Mondays through Fridays and on weekends.

Motorists should consider an alternate route for scheduled travel through the work area between 7 p.m. and 7:45 a.m. U.S. 95 is the only north-south route through western Idaho.

ITD and the contractor ask motorists to use liberal amounts of caution and patience if traveling through the work area during scaling operations.

Weekly construction meetings are planned in the conference room of the Motel 8 in Grangeville, 801 SW First St. The meetings are open to the public and will begin at noon (PDT). They will continue through the end of the project this fall. No meetings are scheduled for Oct. 3 and Oct. 10.

During rock scaling operations this fall, U.S. 95 will be closed to all northbound and southbound traffic according to the following schedule:

U.S. 95 Rockfall Mitigation Closure Schedule
CLOSED	OPEN
7:45 a.m. to 8:45 a.m.	8:45 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.
9:15 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.	10:45 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
11:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.	12:45 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.
1:15 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.	2:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.
3:45 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.	5:15 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.
5:45 p.m. to 7 p.m.	7 p.m. to 7:45 a.m.