7/24/2008
Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov
Signal work to begin Monday (July 28) at College of Southern Idaho main entrance on Falls Avenue
TWIN FALLS - Construction of the much-anticipated signal at the main entrance to the College of Southern Idaho (CSI) is set to begin Monday (July 28) but the area will remain open to limited access, the Idaho Transportation Department announced.
The current exit lanes will remain open during construction for entrance into the college only. Traffic will then be directed into the southwest parking lot. The entrance lane will stay open through construction unless it becomes a safety concern for construction crews.
Throughout construction, traffic leaving the college will need to exit from an alternative outlet on Washington Street or North College Road.
Drivers need to be prepared for lane closures on Falls Avenue during construction while crews perform sub-grade work. At least two lanes of Falls Avenue will remain open throughout construction. Motorists are urged to follow all temporary traffic control devices as some regular turning opportunities will be closed or limited.
When the project is completed, the main entrance of CSI on Falls Avenue will be consolidated into a single intersection that will align with Quincy Street to the south. Each leg of the improved intersection will have a left-turn lane with its current through lanes, and the exit from CSI will include two left turning lanes onto Falls Avenue which is needed to help clear the parking lot more quickly during heavy traffic periods.
"We really wanted to get this project completed before the beginning of the fall semester for CSI, but with the current timeframe we'll have to work around students and faculty for a short period of time," Resident Engineer Kimbol Allen said. "We plan to make this project as smooth as possible despite the challenge."
The fall semester begins for CSI students on Aug. 25, with faculty returning to work on Aug. 18. Construction is expected to be complete by Sept. 12. When completed, CSI and the city will have a functional and safe intersection that addresses the growing needs of the campus.
The consolidated CSI entrance will be located near the present two-lane entrance.
Hap Taylor and Sons, Inc. of Boise is the construction contractor for the $700,000 project.
ITD is managing the federally funded project. Drivers are encouraged to use caution when driving through the construction zone and to watch for crew members and equipment when present. Following too closely and driver inattentiveness are the top two contributing factors in work zone crashes in Idaho.