9/11/2008
Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov
Southwest Idaho highway construction weekly report for Sept. 12-19
BOISE - Following is an update on interstate and state highway construction projects in southwest Idaho.
ADA & CANYON COUNTY
Interstate 84 East improvements - Soundwalls
Work is under way to build a soundwall north on I-84 from Cole Road to Broadway Avenue. The wall will range from 14 to 16 feet high on the motorist side and up to 24 feet high on the property owner side, and will help reduce traffic noise for residents.
The westbound I-84 on-ramp entrance from southbound Broadway Avenue will be restricted for worker safety until December 2008. At least one lane of the ramp will remain open at all times.
The outside shoulder of westbound I-84 is closed to traffic at all times, and the speed limit is 55 mph. Flaggers on the westbound off-ramps of the Broadway, Vista and Orchard interchanges may stop traffic briefly for construction vehicles.
Record Steel and Construction Inc. (RSCI) of Meridian is the contractor on this $9.6 million soundwall project.
The soundwall is one of several improvements planned for the I-84 East corridor in the next two years, including reconstructing the Orchard Street and Vista Avenue interchanges and widening I-84 between Cole Road and Broadway Avenue.
WEST TREASURE VALLEY - Robinson Boulevard & Black Cat Road Bridge Reconstruction
Work will begin in late September on a project to rebuild the I-84 overpasses at Robinson Boulevard and Black Cat Road. Both bridges will be demolished, reconstructed and reopened to traffic in late January 2009.
Starting in late September, Robinson Boulevard will be closed from Franklin Road to Stamm Lane. Black Cat Road will be closed between Franklin Road and Overland Road.
I-84 will be closed for two nights (Sept. 26 and 27) for bridge demolition.
The current overpasses are supported by multiple columns spaced too closely, making it impossible to safely add lanes to I-84 with the current bridges in place.
The $8.5 million contract was awarded this week to Graham Construction and Management of Spokane.
WEST TREASURE VALLEY - Interstate 84, Garrity to Meridian widening
Crews are working day and night to widen and reconstruct I-84 between the Garrity and Meridian interchanges.
Median work to prepare for new lanes between the Garrity Interchange and the Ten Mile Overpass is complete. Construction of additional lanes in that location will begin soon.
Reconstruction of existing westbound lanes between the Ten Mile Overpass and the Meridian Interchange will begin next week. During reconstruction, westbound traffic is shifted onto two new lanes in the existing median at that location.
Motorists can expect nighttime lane closures on I-84 between the Garrity and Meridian interchanges to continue through September. Two lanes of traffic in each direction are always open during the day (5 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends). The I-84 speed limit is reduced to 55 mph and the inside shoulders are closed in the project area.
I-84 widening and reconstruction from Garrity to Meridian is expected to be complete in late 2009 or early 2010.
Construction of a new interchange at Ten Mile Road is anticipated to begin in the summer of 2009 and be complete in the summer of 2011.
NAMPA - Interstate 84, Franklin Boulevard Interchange Bridge reconstruction
Demolition of the east half of the Franklin Boulevard Bridge over I-84 in Nampa is complete. Reconstruction of the bridge is under way. Built in 1965, the bridge will be reconstructed to match the west half built in 1999 and allow future widening on I-84.
On Sunday (Sept. 14), westbound traffic on I-84 will be detoured around the bridge during work on the new bridge columns. The work will begin at 10 p.m. and last several hours. Westbound traffic will exit I-84 at the Franklin Boulevard off-ramp and re-enter at the westbound on-ramp on the other side of the bridge.
Traffic is restricted to one lane in each direction on the bridge. The speed limit is reduced to 25 mph on Franklin Boulevard. The I-84 speed limit is 55 mph in the project area.
Brief nighttime I-84 lane and ramp closures at the Franklin Boulevard Interchange will occur on occasion. Two lanes in each direction on I-84 will typically remain open.
Concrete Placing Co. Inc. of Boise is the contractor on this $3.1 million project.
The above projects are all part of the GARVEE Transportation Program, which uses funds from Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicle (GARVEE) bonds to expedite highway projects.
BOISE - Broadway Avenue, Rossi Street to Ridenbaugh Canal
The pavement in a 1.5-mile section of Broadway Avenue from Rossi Street to the Ridenbaugh Canal is being rehabilitated in this project. Crews have been milling off the surface of the existing roadway. Paving is scheduled to follow; it will be continuing for approximately two weeks.
Crews will be using vibratory rollers to compact the new pavement, and this will create a noticeable vibration to nearby residents.
To minimize inconvenience to businesses and residents during peak traffic hours, crews are working a weekday evening and overnight schedule.
All efforts are being made to maintain cross street and business access; however, temporary closures can be expected as the paving progresses.
Central Paving Co. Inc. of Boise is the contractor on this $1.02 million project, scheduled for completion in late October.
NAMPA - Northside Boulevard Bridge demolition and reconstruction
Work is under way on a project to repair the Northside Boulevard Bridge in Nampa. Work is continuing on the east side of the bridge. This project will repair the four-lane Union Pacific Railroad Overpass in Nampa, built in 1967. A new concrete overlay will help extend the life of this bridge.
Crews will replace all of the expansion joints. The top 1.5 inches of concrete on the lanes will be removed, and replaced with 2.5 inches of new concrete. No work will be done to the guardrail, bridge sidewalks, or center median.
Traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction. No speed limit reductions are planned.
Southbound traffic on Northside Boulevard cannot turn left onto 1st Street N. Extension. Instead, motorists can access 1st Street N. Extension from Shannon Street to 2nd Street S. Detour signs are posted.
The sidewalk will be closed on the overpass when crews are working on that side, while the sidewalk on the opposite side will be open. Once crews finish one side of the overpass, they will reopen the sidewalk and close the other side.
Some approaches on the north and south side of the overpass might be blocked or limited to right turn only.
Concrete Placing Co. Inc. of Boise is the contractor on this $430,000 project.
Work is expected to be completed in late October.
PAYETTE COUNTY
NEAR PAYETTE - Idaho 52 pavement rehabilitation
This 2.3-mile pavement rehabilitation project on Idaho 52, from the Oregon state line near Payette to the junction of U.S. 95, began Sept. 11.
The project also will add Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant pedestrian ramps at intersections, and an old guardrail at the Snake River bridge will be upgraded.
Motorists should expect traffic flaggers. Two-way traffic will be maintained during the project. Business and residential access also will be maintained.
Crews may start removing and replacing concrete the week of Sept. 15-19, and pulverizing the roadway beginning the following week.
The pavement will be rehabilitated using the CRABS (Cement Recycled Asphalt Base Stabilization) process. CRABS involves pulverizing the top 12 inches of the roadway through the gravel base, then adding cement to the old asphalt and base mixture, compacting it, and laying it back down as a base for the new highway. This process extends the life of the roadway.
Paving is expected to take place Oct. 3-20.
Idaho Sand & Gravel of Nampa is the contractor on this $1.7 million project, which is expected to be completed in late October.
IDAHO/OREGON STATE LINE - Snake River View Rest Area renovation
The Snake River View Rest Area is receiving new landscaping and irrigation, 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 I-84 on the Idaho side of the Oregon border, is scheduled to reopen in November. A patio area that overlooks the Snake River was renovated. Walls and a window were added to make the patio more comfortable for year-round use.
Before reopening, the final work on the project includes the interior of the rest area building being painted and cleaned.
The 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 I-84 to the rest area is closed, and posted signs inform motorists of the closure.
WASHINGTON COUNTY
WEISER - Snake River Bridge replacement
The Snake River Bridge on the U.S. 95 Spur in Weiser is being replaced with a wider structure. The bridge connects Annex, Ore., to Weiser.
Ongoing work involves placement of the new bridge deck. Once that is completed, the project will be 50 percent finished.
The columns and pier caps for phase 1 on the bridge have been completed. Over the next few weeks, crews are placing the wood forms to facilitate pouring the concrete bridge deck. Crews also are pouring intermediate diaphragms (concrete stabilizers) to ensure the girders stay in place. The deck for phase 1 will be poured around mid-September.
A bridge was built in 1903, and an additional span was added in 1911. Traffic signals were added in 1949. The bridge was replaced in the 1950s, and is the one being rebuilt today. Once completed, the bridge will be 16 feet wider and able to carry greater traffic volumes. The road on both sides of the bridge also will be reconstructed.
New curb, gutter and sidewalks are being reconstructed on the Idaho side of the bridge.
Lane closures are in effect on the west ramp on the Idaho side of the bridge. Motorists will use the east ramp in both directions to access and exit Old Highway 70 at the bridge.
The speed limit is reduced to 25 mph on the Oregon side of the bridge.
Sletten Construction of Boise is the contractor on this $10 million project. The project is expected to be completed in Fall 2009. It originally was slated for completion in 2010, but crews are significantly ahead of schedule.
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 information on the state highway or interstate system.