5/2/2008
Construction on U.S. 20 between Rigby and Bear World to start Monday (May 5)
RIGBY - Construction on U.S. 20 between Rigby and Bear World will begin Monday (May 5), the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) announced.
The roadway will be resurfaced and rumble strips installed along 6.4 miles of U.S. 20 from the south Rigby exit 320 to the turnoff to Bear World (milepost 327). Rumble strips are a safety feature that warn motorists if they cross the fog line by causing a vibrating sensation as tires roll over the grooved pavement.
Crews will bypass a one-mile stretch of this four-lane divided highway in Lorenzo, which will be resurfaced in connection with the construction of the Menan-Lorenzo interchange planned in 2009-2010. Also part of the project, workers will replace concrete barrier rail in the median between exit 320 and exit 322 in Rigby.
During construction, motorists can expect 15-minute delays. Travel will be reduced to one lane in each direction, with flaggers directing traffic through on- and off-ramps. The speed limit in work areas will be reduced to 45 mph, and a width restriction of 12 feet will be in force for commercial vehicles.
Crews will start at the south Rigby exit 320 on northbound U.S. 20 and work north. Work will take place on weekdays between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. The project is scheduled for completion in August.
ITD awarded H-K Contractors Inc. of Idaho Falls the $7.7 million contract.
Drivers should anticipate changing driving conditions, such as merging traffic, construction vehicles, construction workers and uneven surfaces. They should be particularly careful when entering U.S. 20 from county roads.
The contractor will use a type of highway construction called "crack and seat," which entails breaking up and settling the existing concrete roadway with a guillotine-like machine and then overlaying the road with two layers of asphalt pavement. ITD will administer the project using federal and state funds.
When completed, the 6.4-mile stretch of U.S. 20 will offer a strengthened roadway and a smoother ride for motorists.
The Idaho State Police reminds motorists that fines double for moving violations in work zones. Information on highway projects in Idaho is available by dialing 5-1-1 or on the Internet at 511.idaho.gov.