5/16/2008
Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov
Southwest Idaho highway construction report for May 16-23
BOISE - Following is an update of interstate and state highway construction projects in southwest Idaho.
ADA COUNTY
Interstate 84 East improvements - Soundwalls
Work has begun to prepare the westbound I-84 shoulder for soundwall construction from Cole Road to Broadway Avenue. The wall will range from 14 to 16 feet high and will help reduce traffic noise for residents.
Starting Monday (May 19), the contractor will move the right-of-way fence along properties that border the soundwall segment between the Orchard and Vista interchanges. Construction on the wall in this segment is expected to begin in June.
Also starting May 19, traffic on the Vista Interchange westbound off-ramp may be stopped briefly to allow construction vehicles into the work zone.
The soundwall is one of several improvements planned for the I-84 East corridor in the next two years, including completion of repaving on I-84 between Broadway Avenue and Eisenman Road, reconstructing the Orchard Street Interchange, reconstructing the Vista Avenue Interchange and widening I-84 between Cole Road and Broadway Avenue.
The concrete barriers for Segment 1 (between Orchard and Cole) and Segment II (between Vista and Orchard) are now in place.
Traffic impacts on I-84 are expected to be minimal. The outside shoulder of westbound I-84 is closed to traffic, and the speed limit is 55 mph in the project area.
Record Steel and Construction Inc. (RSCI) of Meridian is the contractor on this $9.5 million soundwall project.
Interstate 84 East improvements - Pavement overlay
The Broadway to Eisenman rehabilitation, which started in September 2007, resumed April 1 and is on schedule to be completed Thursday (May 22). The contractor is completing final work on the project.
The speed limit has been reduced to 55 mph in the project area for safety. Interstate 84 lane restrictions may be necessary at night between the Broadway and Gowen interchanges.
Western Construction of Boise is the contractor on this $12 million repaving project.
This project is part of the GARVEE Transportation Program, which uses funds from Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicle (GARVEE) bonds to expedite interstate improvements.
GARDEN CITY - Idaho 44, Glenwood (Boise River) Bridge to Riverside Drive
Motorists can expect minor traffic impacts during a month-long project that is scheduled for completion next week on Glenwood Boulevard between the Boise River Bridge and Riverside Drive.
The project will add approximately 700 feet of curb, gutter and sidewalk, and improve drainage along the east side of Idaho 44.
Northbound traffic will be reduced to one lane in the daytime, and during nighttime work both northbound lanes will be closed. Flaggers will be on hand to assist motorists. Work requiring lane closures will be completed between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.
Crews will be working Sundays through Fridays.
McAlvain Excavation of Boise is the contractor on this $99,739 project.
ADA & CANYON COUNTY
Interstate 84, Garrity to Meridian widening
Construction of a third lane in the median along the two-mile stretch of roadway between Ten Mile and Meridian begins in June. Preparation work for the additional lane is under way. The third lane will eventually extend throughout the project, but will be built in this area first.
A third lane in each direction will be built, first from Ten Mile to Meridian, then from Ten Mile west to Garrity. Following expansion work, a permanent barrier will be placed between east- and westbound lanes as a safety improvement.
The speed limit will be 65 mph until the third-lane work begins, then it will be reduced to 55 mph.
When finished, the new six-lane divided interstate will reduce congestion and improve safety for motorists. The project, part of a series of improvements planned for I-84 between Caldwell and Meridian, is expected to be complete in 2010.
Widening also will allow the transportation department to add a fourth lane in each direction in the future. Additional environmental work, traffic analysis and overpass widening are needed before the fourth lane can be built.
Knife River Construction of Bismark, N.D., is the contractor on this $29.6 million project.
This project is part of the GARVEE Transportation Program, which uses funds from Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicle (GARVEE) bonds to expedite interstate improvements.
CANYON COUNTY
CALDWELL - 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 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 rebuilding, which started in early December 2006, will enhance several aspects of the interchange. Ramps are being lengthened and widened to two lanes at their intersection with Franklin. Construction is scheduled to be finished this summer.
East- and westbound I-84 will be closed for approximately ten minutes on Sunday morning (May 18) at Exit 29 (Franklin Road) between 6:30 a.m. and 7 a.m. The Franklin Road Overpass will also be closed for approximately 10 minutes. Flaggers and pilot cars will direct traffic.
Gas pumps and parking at the Sage Travel Plaza will be restricted during the blast. The blasting will remove rock under the eastbound on-ramp.
All ramps are open to vehicles during construction. Minor work remains on the westbound on-ramp this spring. The work will be done at night to minimize impact.
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 and bicycle lanes.
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.
Aviation Way is closed north of U.S. 20/26 through May 20 for concrete paving. Paving may be done at night or day, depending on weather restrictions that include a minimum temperature of 40 degrees.
Concrete Placing Co. of Boise is the contractor for the $24.8 million project.
CALDWELL - Chicago Street and 21st Avenue
Motorists are reduced to one lane in each direction throughout May for the completion of improvements at the intersection of Chicago Street and 21st Avenue in Caldwell.
The project will widen both Chicago Street and 21st Avenue at the intersection to add a left-hand turn bay on 21st Avenue, and add traffic signals, construct sidewalks, curb and gutter, and enhance the stormwater drainage facilities. It is the first of several enhancements to 21st Avenue between Chicago Street and Franklin Road.
WF Construction and Sales LLC of Meridian is the contractor on this $448,145 project.
HOMEDALE - Homedale Road realignment
Paving will be under way May 19-23 on Homedale Road, and traffic will be detoured through late June for this project. The project will rebuild and realign about one-half mile of roadway, from Van Slyke Road east.
Eastbound traffic will detour at Van Slyke Road, north to Ustick Road, then to Plum Road and back to Homedale Road. Westbound traffic will follow the same detour route in reverse.
The project will improve safety by providing increased sight-distance for motorists on this rural two-lane roadway. Pipe and irrigation work also will be completed.
The project began in February. Idaho Sand and Gravel of Nampa is the contractor on this $1.25 million project.
NOTUS - U.S. 20, Junction of U.S. 95 to East City Limits
Crews will repave seven miles of U.S. 20 to the east of Parma, from the junction of U.S. 95 to Notus.
From May 19-31, the contractor will pave from Notus west to the U.S. 95 junction, then turn around and pave back east to complete the project. The repaving will extend the life of the roadway. Repaving will use the Cement Recycled Asphalt Base Stabilization (CRABS) method. CRABS involves grinding the existing roadway down to the gravel base, then adding cement to the old asphalt.
It will cause minor delays and speed reductions. Traffic will be reduced to one lane this week, with pilot cars used to direct traffic.
Western Construction of Boise is the contractor on this $2.6 million project.
PARMA - U.S. 95, Parma Business District and 4th St. to Roswell Blvd. sidewalk
These companioned State and Enhancement projects will mill and inlay the pavement through Parma, address ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) issues and install lighting from 4th to Roswell in town. Crews also will replace curb and gutter and install 7.5-feet-wide sidewalks on both sides of the road from Roswell Street to Fourth Street. Decorative lighting also will be added in that area.
The project started May 12 and should be completed in mid-July.
The curb, gutter, sidewalks and lighting are being done with the town's enhancement funds. The mill and inlay of paving are being done with state funds.
The road will remain open at all times, but will have some minor delays throughout the different operations. There are currently three lanes through town, including a center turn lane, so traffic can be moved over as required and the road will remain open.
Flaggers will be on hand to direct traffic. No speed limit reductions are anticipated.
Knife River Construction of Boise is the contractor on this $747,000 project.
SOUTH OF NAMPA - Idaho 45, Melba Road to Deer Flat Road
Traffic is reduced to one lane through the construction zone from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. for an eight-mile pavement rehabilitation project on Idaho 45 south of Nampa from Melba Road to Deer Flat Road. This project also will upgrade substandard bridge guardrail at the Mora Canal.
Motorists will be assisted by flaggers and a pilot car. The project is scheduled for completion in late May.
American Paving Co. of Meridian is the contractor on this $2.2 million project.
OWYHEE COUNTY
WILDER - U.S. 95, Golden Gate Canal Bridge to D Avenue
A half-mile of sidewalk, curb and gutter will be built on U.S. 95 in Wilder to improve pedestrian safety. Currently, the sidewalk does not extend all the way through that portion of Wilder.
Traffic in the southbound lanes are being reduced to one lane while work proceeds. Work is finished in the northbound lanes. There are no speed limit reductions.
King Excavation of Caldwell is the contractor for this $293,000 project. The project is scheduled to be completed in June.
PAYETTE COUNTY
FRUITLAND - Jct. U.S. 30 to Vista Avenue
This half-mile project to widen the existing roadway and construct a new roadway segment, bike paths, curb, gutter and sidewalk on N. Allen Avenue in Fruitland is scheduled to end in June.
The project originally began in mid-February, but closed for 30 days for the relocation of utilities. Water meters and fire hydrants were relocated, and an eight-inch irrigation line replaced by city crews.
Motorists may experience lane restrictions or delays on this two-lane road, but no speed limit reductions.
WF Construction and Sales LLC of Meridian is the contractor on this $756,675 project.
The City of Fruitland also is doing $88,000 of work in the same area. The finished work will link Allen Avenue to Washoe Road by creating an extension from Allen Avenue through a currently vacant field off of Washoe Road and Northwest 24th to the north.
The purpose of the city's work is to remove the two hard 45-degree turns necessary to reach Washoe from Allen. Currently, people have to take a hard left from Allen Avenue to Northwest 20th and then another hard right to where Vista joins into Washoe. The design will eliminate the need to make the hard turns by creating a gentle curve linking Allen to Washoe.
It is a total rehabilitation of the old road bed, and the road will be widened with curb, gutter, sidewalk and storm drains included.
IDAHO/OREGON STATE LINE - Snake River View Rest Area
The Snake River View Rest Area will undergo new landscaping and irrigation this week, and has new fixtures in the men's and women's restrooms, a repaved parking lot and sidewalk improvements to increase handicapped access.
The rest area, on the eastbound side of Interstate 84 on the Idaho side of the Oregon border, is scheduled to re-open in June.
A patio area that overlooks the Snake River also will be renovated. Walls and a window will be added to make the patio more comfortable for year-round use.
The original rest area was built in 1966 and refurbished in 1987.
King Excavation of Caldwell is the contractor for the $995,500 project.
The eastbound off-ramp from Interstate 84 to the rest area is closed, and posted signs inform motorists of the closure.
ITD and the Idaho State Police warn motorists to slow down and pay attention when driving in work zones, where increased speeding fines and other penalties apply. Motorists are encouraged to plan ahead and dial 5-1-1 or visit 511.idaho.gov for driving information on the state highway or interstate system.