4/8/2005
Highway construction season under way in eastern Idaho
RIGBY - Nearly $80 million in highway construction projects are on tap for this construction season in eastern Idaho, the Idaho Transportation Department announced.
The season is getting an earlier-than-normal start, thanks to a mild winter and early spring. Projects already under way include:
Sunnyside I-15 Interchange to I-15B - Construction has resumed on the Sunnyside I-15 Interchange, Snake River Bridge and five-lane connecting road, a $21 million project scheduled for completion by fall 2006. Idaho Construction is scheduled to set girders on the new interchange overpass on the northbound lanes of I-15 on April 11, and traffic will switch to southbound lanes. Traffic through the work zone will be two-way, two-lane throughout the summer. A 55 mph speed limit, put in place earlier this year to accommodate the construction, will be enforced through the work zone by extra Idaho State Police patrols.
U.S. 20, Hitt and St. Leon interchanges - Work also has resumed on the $19 million Hitt and St. Leon Interchanges north of Idaho Falls. Canal bridges were completed over the winter, and steel-reinforced concrete girders were put in place early in March. The overpasses are scheduled for completion by early summer so traffic can be routed onto the new section of highway while the ramps and connecting roads are built. The project is scheduled for completion by this fall.
Idaho 33, Canyon Creek Bridge - Work began in December on the new Canyon Creek Bridge east of Newdale. New piers for the structure have been poured, and Sletten Construction has started building the steel support structures for the bridge, which will be located north of the existing bridge. The $4.3 million project is scheduled for completion by spring 2006. The speed limit has been reduced to 45 mph. Motorists can expect occasional lane reductions and one-way traffic during the summer. Traffic will continue over the existing bridge throughout construction.-
I-15 Guardrail New guardrail will be installed on the interstate between mileposts 121 and 137. Marcon, Inc. of Nampa is the contractor for this $739,355 project.
U.S. 20, Holbrook Road Closure The at-grade intersection was closed last fall due to safety concerns. The northbound off-ramp and the curve on 200 North where Holbrook Road previously accessed U.S. 20 will be realigned, and repairs will be made to the overpass. H-K Contractors of Idaho Falls is the contractor for this $456,165 project.
Idaho 33, Teton, East and West The highway will be milled, overlaid and seal coated, with some minor shoulder widening from 3000 East to Teton (mileposts 101-107). Zollinger Construction of Rexburg is the contractor for this $1.4 million project.
U.S. 20, Sugar City to Twin Groves - The highway will be ground to provide a smoother, safer driving surface from south of St. Anthony (milepost 342) to Twin Groves northeast of St. Anthony (milepost 249). The project will include both north- and southbound lanes and the speed limit will be reduced to 45 mph through the work area. Diversified Concrete Cutting of Sparks, Nev. is the contractor for the $5 million project.
U.S. 20, South of Ashton The pavement will be repaired, overlaid and seal coated between mileposts 353 and 360 south of Ashton. H-K Contractors of Idaho Falls is the contractor for this $1.76 million project.
Idaho 32, Fremont County Line to Ashton - Crews will mill the top layer of asphalt, overlay with a new layer of paving, and seal coat the roadway between mileposts 7 and 29. H-K Contractors is the contractor for this $2.7 million project.
U.S. 93, Arco West Work will begin April 18 on a project that includes milling off the top lay of asphalt paving to allow placement of new asphalt between milepost 233 and 246, west of Arco. Work is scheduled for completion in early June, followed by a seal coat in mid-August. H-K Contractors is the contractor for the $3.8 million project.
U.S. 93, North Fork Bridge to Gibbonsville Road An 11-mile stretch of highway from milepost 326 to 337 will be overlaid and seal coated. Western Construction of Boise is the project contractor for this $1.9 million project.
I-15, Breakaway Signs, Idaho 33 Interchange to Montana border Signs along north- and southbound I-15 will be replaced with signs that will break away when hit by vehicles. The breakaway signs are expected to reduce injury and property damage in case of an accident. G.V. Construction of Garden Valley is the contractor for the $357,227 project.
Another $19 million in projects is scheduled to be bid this season, though construction may wait until summer 2006. The projects include:
I-15, Hamer to Dubois, Northbound The northbound lanes of the interstate will be rehabilitated with a plant mix overlay and seal coat between milepost 150 and 168. The estimated cost is $5.6 million.
I-15, Traveler Advisory Radio System, Phase I Two traveler advisory radio stations will be erected adjacent to I-15, one at the south Idaho Falls interchange and one adjacent to the Sage Junction Port of Entry. Together the two stations will provide warning of closures at Osgood and Monida Pass.
Idaho 33, Intersection of 12th West of U.S. 20, near Rexburg The road will be widened to five lanes, and a traffic signal and turn lanes will be installed at the 12th West intersection. The project will include curb, gutter and minor alignment changes. The estimated cost is $450,000.
Sunnyside Road, Idaho Falls This city-sponsored project will widen Sunnyside Road in Idaho Falls to five lanes and connect it to the Sunnyside I-15 Interchange and Snake River Bridge. The estimated cost is $5.5 million.
I-15, Snow fence Two proposed projects, one in the area of China Point and the other at Pleasant Valley, are designed to reduce the amount of snow that drifts across the interstate. The estimated combined cost is $890,000.
U.S. 93, Tom Cat Hill, East The road will be reconstructed between milepost 224 and 226 to improve sight distance, and between milepost 226 to 233, the road will be rehabilitated. The project will be constructed within the existing right of way. The shoulders will be seeded with native plant seeds gathered from the Craters of the Moon National Monument. The estimated cost is $6.4 million.
Intersection of Iona Road, near Idaho Falls A traffic signal will be installed at the intersection of U.S. 20B and Iona Road. The estimated cost is $400,000.