9/26/2008
Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov
Southwest Idaho highway construction report for Sept. 26-Oct. 3
BOISE - Following is an update on interstate and state highway construction projects in southwest Idaho.
ADA & CANYON COUNTY
BOISE - Interstate 84 East improvements - Soundwall placement
Work is under way to build a soundwall north of westbound 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.
On Tuesday (Sept. 30) and Wednesday (Oct. 1) nights from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., westbound I-84 will be reduced to one lane for work in the shoulder between the Orchard and Vista interchanges.
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.
BOISE - Interstate 84 East improvements - New York Canal widening
Crews are widening the I-84 bridge over the New York Canal just east of the Orchard Street Interchange to allow new ramp lanes at the Orchard Interchange and future additional lanes in the I-84 median.
Traffic on I-84 between the Orchard and Vista interchanges can expect nighttime lane closures to continue until Friday (Oct. 3). At least one lane in each direction is open from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. weekdays and 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. weekends. All lanes are open during the day.
The speed limit on I-84 is 55 mph and shoulders are restricted in the project area.
The project is expected to be complete in spring of 2009. Reconstruction of the Orchard Street Interchange is anticipated to begin in late 2008.
WEST TREASURE VALLEY - Robinson Boulevard & Black Cat Road Bridge reconstruction
Work is under way 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.
Robinson Boulevard is closed from Franklin Road to Stamm Lane. Black Cat Road is closed between Franklin Road and Overland Road.
I-84 will be closed overnight on Friday (Sept. 26) and Saturday (Sept. 27) nights between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. (Sept. 26 and 27) for bridge demolition. Flaggers will direct eastbound traffic off I-84 at the Garrity Interchange. Traffic will be detoured to Idaho Center Boulevard, Franklin Road and Main Street and re-enter I-84 at the Meridian Road on-ramp.
From the Meridian Interchange, westbound traffic will be directed through the reverse route back to the Garrity Boulevard on-ramp.
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.
Graham Construction and Management of Spokane is the contractor on this $8.5 million project.
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.
Westbound traffic between the Meridian Interchange and the Black Cat Overpass is shifted onto new pavement in the existing median. The speed limit on I-84 is 55 mph and shoulders are restricted in the project area.
One lane of traffic in each direction is typically open at night. Two lanes of traffic in each direction are open during the day (5 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends).
Widening and reconstruction of I-84 from Garrity to Meridian is expected to be complete in 2010.
Construction of a new interchange at Ten Mile Road is anticipated to begin in summer of 2009 and be complete in summer of 2011.
NAMPA - Interstate 84, Franklin Boulevard Interchange Bridge reconstruction
Crews are reconstructing the east half of the Franklin Boulevard Bridge over I-84 in Nampa. Built in 1965, the bridge is being reconstructed to match the west half built in 1999 and allow future I-84 widening.
Traffic is restricted to one lane in each direction on the bridge. The speed limit is reduced to 25 mph on Franklin Boulevard. The speed limit on I-84 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 Company 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 repaving
The pavement in a 1.5-mile section of Broadway Avenue from Rossi Street to the Ridenbaugh Canal is being rehabilitated in this project.
Paving was completed last week, with restriping remaining, as well as milling to remove rough spots. The project is expected to be completed by Oct. 6.
To minimize inconvenience to businesses and residents during peak traffic hours, crews are working a weekday evening and overnight schedule.
Central Paving Co. Inc. of Boise is the contractor on this $1.02 million project.
NAMPA - Northside Boulevard Bridge repairs
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.
ELMORE COUNTY
MOUNTAIN HOME - American Legion Boulevard overlay
This project to rehabilitate about three-quarters of a mile of American Legion Boulevard (I-84B) through Mountain Home resumed Sept. 22. The pavement rehabilitation will extend the life of the roadway in this section.
The road was built in 1960, with only periodic improvements since.
The project also will upgrade substandard pedestrian ramps at nine intersections, in accordance with ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) guidelines.
New curb, gutter and sidewalk - 850 feet - is being placed as an addition to the original contract.
Southbound traffic will be reduced to one lane from Walmart to 18th Street. Business access should be maintained.
Knife River Corp. of Bismark, N.D., is the contractor on this $546,405 project.
The project is scheduled for completion 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, is well under way.
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 throughout the project from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. One-way traffic will be maintained during project times, and two-way traffic will resume when work ends each evening. Business and residential access also will be maintained. A "rolling work zone" will be in effect as crews progress through the project.
Approximately 10,000 lbs. - 3 inches - of new asphalt will be placed for the new surface. 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.
The original 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 highway 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 caution 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.