11/2/2007
Southwest Idaho highway construction report for Nov. 2 - Nov. 9
ADA COUNTY
Interstate 84 East resurfacing between Broadway Interchange and Eisenman Interchange
A one-week closure of the eastbound I-84 ramps at Gowen Road will be the last major traffic change for I-84 construction this fall. The eastbound on-ramp at Gowen closed last week. It will remain closed, and the eastbound off-ramp is expected to close early Sunday morning. Both ramps will reopen toward the end of the week of Nov. 5 - Nov. 9. The eastbound exits at Eisenman were closed last week. The Eisenman Interchange will reopen to traffic on Sunday, Nov. 4. The closures are part of a 6.1-mile rehabilitation project between the Broadway and Eisenman interchanges. Work began near the Broadway Interchange in September, and moved to the Gowen Interchange area in mid-October. ITD expects another two days of work at the Eisenman Interchange after work near Gowen is completed. Construction is expected to shut down before Thanksgiving and resume in the spring. The $12 million project is on schedule to be completed by summer 2008.
Locust Grove Overpass construction
Work started in December 2006 on a new overpass that will connect Locust Grove Road and offer an extended route over Interstate 84 between Eagle Road and Meridian Road. Currently, Locust Grove Road south of Interstate 84 ends near the interstate. The north side of Locust Grove Road also ends near Interstate 84. The inside lane of eastbound and westbound I-84 near the construction site closed in March and will remain closed into October. The closure allows for construction of the center overpass pier and new median barrier. The speed limit is reduced from 65 miles per hour to 55 miles per hour. The new overpass, scheduled to be finished at the end of November, will consist of two lanes in each direction, sidewalks and bike lanes on both sides of the overpass. Concrete Placing Co. of Boise is the contractor on the $5,845,000 project.
U.S. 20/26 (Chinden Boulevard), Cloverdale Road to Hewlett-Packard widening
Final work on a project to widen Chinden Boulevard (U.S. 20/26) is expected to be complete by mid-November. The project, which started in March, widened Chinden from three lanes to five between Cloverdale Road and Hewlett-Packard. Bicycle lanes were added to both sides of the roadway, and curb, gutter and sidewalk were also installed along the south side of the road. Pedestrian and bicycle facilities now extend from Eagle Road to the Joplin Road/Mountain View Drive intersection. In addition, a new half-mile-long frontage road provides access to homes on the north side of Chinden between the west end of Joplin and HP. This is the third and final phase of a project to widen Chinden from Eagle Road in an eastward direction through Garden City. The widening project was divided into three phases for several reasons - public convenience, cost, environmental effects and right-of-way acquisition. Phase one, between Eagle Road and Cloverdale Road, was completed in November 2003. Phase two, between HPs main entrance and Joplin Road/Mountain View Drive, was completed in December 2006. Joplin Road remains closed from the Chinden/Cloverdale intersection to Ancell Lane while the City of Boise installs underground sewer lines. Motorists can access Joplin at its eastern intersection with Chinden (near Mountain View Drive). After sewer work is complete, the Ada County Highway District plans to complete resurfacing of Joplin Road. Chinden Boulevard receives more than 26,000 vehicle trips per day. That number is expected to increase to between 30,000 and 36,000 vehicles per day by 2030. Central Paving Inc. of Boise is the contractor on this $5.5 million project.
BOISE COUNTY
Dunnigan Creek Bridge
Construction started in June to replace the Dunnigan Creek Bridge over Mores Creek. The bridge is located 14 miles south of Idaho City and seven miles north of the Mores Creek High Bridge. The 70-year-old bridge will be replaced with a taller, wider structure. Slope stabilization also will be done along Idaho 21 before and after the bridge. There will be a temporary crossing over Mores Creek while the new bridge is built, which will maintain one lane in each direction for motorists. The speed limit in the construction area will be reduced from 45 mph to 25 mph. There will be occasional traffic stops at approximately 15-minute intervals at the construction site. There may be some construction activity on weekends. The work is scheduled to be finished late this year. McAlvain Excavation is the contractor on the $2.3 million project.
CANYON COUNTY
Interstate 84, Exit 29/Franklin Interchange rebuilding
The Exit 29/Franklin Road Interchange is being rebuilt to improve access to Caldwell from I-84, improve traffic flow and ease congestion. The Interstate 84 (I-84) westbound right lane near the Franklin Road Interchange closed for excavation work on Monday, Oct. 29, and will reopen on Monday, Nov. 19. Motorists will still be able to enter I-84 westbound from Franklin Road. However, drivers are advised to use the 10th Avenue on-ramp at Exit 28, especially during heavy commute times. The lane closure will allow crews to excavate the westbound on-ramp next to the fog line. The new on-ramp is expected to be open by mid-November. A guardrail has been placed at the edge of the right lane to keep traffic away from a potentially dangerous drop-off that will be created by the excavation work. Aviation Way is open. The interchange rebuilding, which started in early December 2006, will enhance several aspects of the interchange. The current two-lane Franklin Overpass will be replaced with a six-lane bridge. The new overpass will have two through lanes in each direction and dual left turn lanes in each direction. The interchange ramps are being lengthened and widened to two lanes at their intersection with Franklin. Eastbound on-ramp traffic from Franklin Road onto Interstate 84 is using a temporary ramp. Westbound off-ramp traffic from Interstate 84 onto Franklin Road also is using a temporary ramp, just west of the current ramp. Both temporary ramps are a single lane each. Those ramps, scheduled to be in place for several months, will allow crews to rebuild the closed ramps. Once finished, the new ramps will offer two lanes each. The eastbound off-ramp and westbound on-ramp will have traffic shifted to temporary ramps at a later date. The project also involves widening Franklin Road from two to five lanes between the overpass and Specht Avenue. The new road will have a curb, gutter, sidewalk, bicycle lanes and shoulder. Aviation Way will be widened at the intersection with Franklin Road. A new traffic signal also will be added. Lanes may be reduced temporarily on Franklin Road and Aviation Way during the widening. Both roads will remain open during construction. One or both lanes of I-84 may be closed between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. for safety while crews replace the overpass. Traffic will be detoured. A new bridge and three new lanes are now being used after the old overpass was torn down. At the project's completion, all six new overpass lanes will be opened. Concrete Placing Co. is the contractor for the $25 million project. Construction is scheduled to be finished in the fall of 2008.
I-84B Blaine Street/Cleveland Boulevard repaving
A repaving project is nearing completion on Blaine and Cleveland, from 10th Avenue South to just east of South Florida Avenue. The roadway is being rebuilt and paved to the edge of new curb and gutter along both streets. Curb and gutter replacement and most asphalt removal on Blaine Street and Cleveland Boulevard are complete. Central Paving Company Inc. is the contractor for the $2.8 million project. During the roadway rebuild, parking and lane restrictions have been necessary. Completion is scheduled for late 2007. Work was recently completed on new curb and gutter on Blaine Street and Cleveland Boulevard, from 10th Avenue to 22nd Avenue in Caldwell. The $1.8 million project, once the road surfaces are finished, will improve drainage and eliminate dips at side street intersections. Braun-Jensen Incorporated was the project contractor on the curb and gutter work. Both projects will result in improved sidewalk access. Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant pedestrian ramps will be installed at sidewalk street corners and ramps will be aligned to the center of crosswalks for easier access. Blaine Street and Cleveland Boulevard (Interstate 84 Business Route) are the two major east/west corridors that move traffic through a residential area to a commercial area farther east. These streets also are collectors for side streets and have large numbers of traffic, particularly during rush hours.
For current driving conditions on Idaho highways, dial 5-1-1 or visit 511.idaho.gov.
Interstate 84 East resurfacing between Broadway Interchange and Eisenman Interchange
A one-week closure of the eastbound I-84 ramps at Gowen Road will be the last major traffic change for I-84 construction this fall. The eastbound on-ramp at Gowen closed last week. It will remain closed, and the eastbound off-ramp is expected to close early Sunday morning. Both ramps will reopen toward the end of the week of Nov. 5 - Nov. 9. The eastbound exits at Eisenman were closed last week. The Eisenman Interchange will reopen to traffic on Sunday, Nov. 4. The closures are part of a 6.1-mile rehabilitation project between the Broadway and Eisenman interchanges. Work began near the Broadway Interchange in September, and moved to the Gowen Interchange area in mid-October. ITD expects another two days of work at the Eisenman Interchange after work near Gowen is completed. Construction is expected to shut down before Thanksgiving and resume in the spring. The $12 million project is on schedule to be completed by summer 2008.
Locust Grove Overpass construction
Work started in December 2006 on a new overpass that will connect Locust Grove Road and offer an extended route over Interstate 84 between Eagle Road and Meridian Road. Currently, Locust Grove Road south of Interstate 84 ends near the interstate. The north side of Locust Grove Road also ends near Interstate 84. The inside lane of eastbound and westbound I-84 near the construction site closed in March and will remain closed into October. The closure allows for construction of the center overpass pier and new median barrier. The speed limit is reduced from 65 miles per hour to 55 miles per hour. The new overpass, scheduled to be finished at the end of November, will consist of two lanes in each direction, sidewalks and bike lanes on both sides of the overpass. Concrete Placing Co. of Boise is the contractor on the $5,845,000 project.
U.S. 20/26 (Chinden Boulevard), Cloverdale Road to Hewlett-Packard widening
Final work on a project to widen Chinden Boulevard (U.S. 20/26) is expected to be complete by mid-November. The project, which started in March, widened Chinden from three lanes to five between Cloverdale Road and Hewlett-Packard. Bicycle lanes were added to both sides of the roadway, and curb, gutter and sidewalk were also installed along the south side of the road. Pedestrian and bicycle facilities now extend from Eagle Road to the Joplin Road/Mountain View Drive intersection. In addition, a new half-mile-long frontage road provides access to homes on the north side of Chinden between the west end of Joplin and HP. This is the third and final phase of a project to widen Chinden from Eagle Road in an eastward direction through Garden City. The widening project was divided into three phases for several reasons - public convenience, cost, environmental effects and right-of-way acquisition. Phase one, between Eagle Road and Cloverdale Road, was completed in November 2003. Phase two, between HPs main entrance and Joplin Road/Mountain View Drive, was completed in December 2006. Joplin Road remains closed from the Chinden/Cloverdale intersection to Ancell Lane while the City of Boise installs underground sewer lines. Motorists can access Joplin at its eastern intersection with Chinden (near Mountain View Drive). After sewer work is complete, the Ada County Highway District plans to complete resurfacing of Joplin Road. Chinden Boulevard receives more than 26,000 vehicle trips per day. That number is expected to increase to between 30,000 and 36,000 vehicles per day by 2030. Central Paving Inc. of Boise is the contractor on this $5.5 million project.
BOISE COUNTY
Dunnigan Creek Bridge
Construction started in June to replace the Dunnigan Creek Bridge over Mores Creek. The bridge is located 14 miles south of Idaho City and seven miles north of the Mores Creek High Bridge. The 70-year-old bridge will be replaced with a taller, wider structure. Slope stabilization also will be done along Idaho 21 before and after the bridge. There will be a temporary crossing over Mores Creek while the new bridge is built, which will maintain one lane in each direction for motorists. The speed limit in the construction area will be reduced from 45 mph to 25 mph. There will be occasional traffic stops at approximately 15-minute intervals at the construction site. There may be some construction activity on weekends. The work is scheduled to be finished late this year. McAlvain Excavation is the contractor on the $2.3 million project.
CANYON COUNTY
Interstate 84, Exit 29/Franklin Interchange rebuilding
The Exit 29/Franklin Road Interchange is being rebuilt to improve access to Caldwell from I-84, improve traffic flow and ease congestion. The Interstate 84 (I-84) westbound right lane near the Franklin Road Interchange closed for excavation work on Monday, Oct. 29, and will reopen on Monday, Nov. 19. Motorists will still be able to enter I-84 westbound from Franklin Road. However, drivers are advised to use the 10th Avenue on-ramp at Exit 28, especially during heavy commute times. The lane closure will allow crews to excavate the westbound on-ramp next to the fog line. The new on-ramp is expected to be open by mid-November. A guardrail has been placed at the edge of the right lane to keep traffic away from a potentially dangerous drop-off that will be created by the excavation work. Aviation Way is open. The interchange rebuilding, which started in early December 2006, will enhance several aspects of the interchange. The current two-lane Franklin Overpass will be replaced with a six-lane bridge. The new overpass will have two through lanes in each direction and dual left turn lanes in each direction. The interchange ramps are being lengthened and widened to two lanes at their intersection with Franklin. Eastbound on-ramp traffic from Franklin Road onto Interstate 84 is using a temporary ramp. Westbound off-ramp traffic from Interstate 84 onto Franklin Road also is using a temporary ramp, just west of the current ramp. Both temporary ramps are a single lane each. Those ramps, scheduled to be in place for several months, will allow crews to rebuild the closed ramps. Once finished, the new ramps will offer two lanes each. The eastbound off-ramp and westbound on-ramp will have traffic shifted to temporary ramps at a later date. The project also involves widening Franklin Road from two to five lanes between the overpass and Specht Avenue. The new road will have a curb, gutter, sidewalk, bicycle lanes and shoulder. Aviation Way will be widened at the intersection with Franklin Road. A new traffic signal also will be added. Lanes may be reduced temporarily on Franklin Road and Aviation Way during the widening. Both roads will remain open during construction. One or both lanes of I-84 may be closed between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. for safety while crews replace the overpass. Traffic will be detoured. A new bridge and three new lanes are now being used after the old overpass was torn down. At the project's completion, all six new overpass lanes will be opened. Concrete Placing Co. is the contractor for the $25 million project. Construction is scheduled to be finished in the fall of 2008.
I-84B Blaine Street/Cleveland Boulevard repaving
A repaving project is nearing completion on Blaine and Cleveland, from 10th Avenue South to just east of South Florida Avenue. The roadway is being rebuilt and paved to the edge of new curb and gutter along both streets. Curb and gutter replacement and most asphalt removal on Blaine Street and Cleveland Boulevard are complete. Central Paving Company Inc. is the contractor for the $2.8 million project. During the roadway rebuild, parking and lane restrictions have been necessary. Completion is scheduled for late 2007. Work was recently completed on new curb and gutter on Blaine Street and Cleveland Boulevard, from 10th Avenue to 22nd Avenue in Caldwell. The $1.8 million project, once the road surfaces are finished, will improve drainage and eliminate dips at side street intersections. Braun-Jensen Incorporated was the project contractor on the curb and gutter work. Both projects will result in improved sidewalk access. Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant pedestrian ramps will be installed at sidewalk street corners and ramps will be aligned to the center of crosswalks for easier access. Blaine Street and Cleveland Boulevard (Interstate 84 Business Route) are the two major east/west corridors that move traffic through a residential area to a commercial area farther east. These streets also are collectors for side streets and have large numbers of traffic, particularly during rush hours.
For current driving conditions on Idaho highways, dial 5-1-1 or visit 511.idaho.gov.