10/24/2008
Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov
Southwest Idaho highway construction report for Oct. 24-31
BOISE - Following is an update on interstate and state highway construction projects in southwest Idaho.
ADA and 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 help reduce traffic noise for residents adjacent to I-84.
Crews completed the center segment of the wall (between Orchard Street and Vista Avenue) last week. Work is nearly complete on the west segment, and the first panels will be installed on the east segment next week.
Nighttime single-lane closures will be necessary on westbound I-84 from Wednesday to Friday (Oct. 29-31) near the Orchard Interchange. Crews will move the concrete guardrail closer to the wall.
Flaggers may stop daytime traffic on the Broadway, Vista and Orchard westbound ramps when construction vehicles enter or exit the work zone. The westbound I-84 on-ramp entrance from southbound Broadway Avenue is restricted for worker safety.
The outside shoulder of westbound I-84 is closed to traffic. The speed limit is 55 mph.
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 near future, including reconstructing the Orchard Street and Vista Avenue interchanges and widening I-84 between Cole Road and Broadway Avenue.
WEST TREASURE VALLEY - Robinson Boulevard and Black Cat Road bridge replacement
Work is under way on a project to replace the I-84 overpasses at Robinson Boulevard and Black Cat Road. ITD expects to open both new bridges in late January 2009.
To maximize efficiency, both bridges are being constructed adjacent to I-84 and will be moved into place by a heavy-duty transporter in December.
Concrete bridge columns will be moved into place Friday (Oct. 24) and Monday (Oct. 27) night. Concrete caps will be placed on the columns later next week.
Two lanes of traffic will remain open during daytime hours. At least one lane of traffic will be open at night (10 p.m. to 5 a.m. on weekdays, 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. on weekends).
Robinson Boulevard is closed from Franklin Road to Stamm Lane. Black Cat Road is closed between Franklin Road and Overland Road.
The former overpasses were 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.
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 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 and noise through Nov. 2. 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 the spring of 2009.
WEST TREASURE VALLEY - Interstate 84, Garrity to Meridian widening
Intermittent nighttime lane closures continue on east- and westbound I-84 between the Garrity and Meridian interchanges. At least one lane in each direction on I-84 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). The I-84 speed limit is 55 mph and shoulders are restricted in the project area.
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 June 2009 and be complete in the summer of 2011.
NAMPA - Interstate 84, Franklin Boulevard Interchange Bridge reconstruction
As reconstruction of the east half of the bridge continues, 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.
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.
Bridge reconstruction is expected to be complete in the early summer of 2009.
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 - Eastbound Connector sign bridge replacement
The left lane will be closed on the eastbound Connector (I-184) near the Chinden Boulevard Bridge starting Sunday (Oct. 26) for the completion of a project to replace an old over-the-roadway signpost.
Remaining work on the project involves assembling and placing a new T-pole structure, removing and covering the old sign foundation, and re-pouring the median guardrail section. The continuous lane restriction is expected to be lifted Nov. 3.
Short-term lane restrictions may occur through Nov. 7 for clean-up work, but will not be allowed during peak-hour traffic periods.
The lane closure is necessary for the safety of motorists traveling near the construction site and crew members within the work zone.
The inside median shoulder in the westbound lanes also will be closed during the installation of the new sign.
Drivers are urged to use caution when driving through the construction zone and watch for workers and equipment.
Specialty Construction of Boise is the contractor on this project.
NAMPA - Northside Boulevard Bridge repairs
Work is nearly finished 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.
Although the project is nearly completed, there may still be intermittent lane restrictions funneling traffic into one lane in each direction.
Crews are replacing 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.
Concrete Placing Co. Inc. of Boise is the contractor on this $430,000 project.
Work is expected to be completed by Oct. 31.
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 is expected to be finished by Oct. 31. 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 Wal-Mart to 18th Street. Business access should be maintained.
Knife River Corp. of Bismark, N.D., is the contractor on this $546,405 project.
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 contractor has completed most of the re-striping of the roadway and is raising manholes and valves back to roadway level prior to substantial completion next Tuesday (Oct. 28) or Wednesday (Oct. 29) .
Approximately 10,000 lbs. - 3 inches - of new asphalt will be placed for the new surface. This process extends the life of the roadway.
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.
Idaho Sand & Gravel of Nampa is the contractor on this $1.7 million project.
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.
A significant amount of the new bridge deck has been poured, and work on the roadway approaches to the bridge proceeds.
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 that 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.