4/17/2009
Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov
Southwest Idaho weekly highway construction report for April 17-24
BOISE - Following is an update on interstate and state highway construction projects in southwest Idaho.
ADA COUNTY
EAGLE - Merrill Park Boise River Bridge project
Crews have begun work on a 185-foot pedestrian bridge across the north channel of the Boise River east of Merrill Park in Eagle. The bridge connects the north and the south sides of the Eagle Greenbelt; the closest upstream crossing is at Glenwood.
There will be no traffic interference during the project aside from trucks entering and exiting the road to get to the project area. The path will be closed to recreational users while crews drive piles and place the bridge.
The sidewalk has been placed, and crews have finished tasks that require them to work in the water.
The pathway is closed for a distance of about 500 feet under the bridge.
King Excavation of Caldwell is the contractor on the $418,000 project, which is expected to finish in May.
The city of Eagle is also participating financially in the project.
GARDEN CITY/BOISE - Idaho 44, State & Glenwood Pavement Rehabilitation
A project to repair and resurface State and Glenwood streets (Idaho 44) began March 29. The initial work includes replacement of deteriorated pipes on State east of Bogart Lane and a storm sewer pipe replacement on Glenwood north of Riverside Drive.
Crews will replace a deteriorated gutter across the parking lot access between Wells Fargo Bank and Burger King on the east side of Glenwood Street (Idaho 44) north of Riverside Drive.
Crews will work at night, though the driveway access and work area will be closed to traffic 24 hours a day. Motorists can access businesses in this area from driveway points to the north and south of the work area.
The pavement rehabilitation project from State Street at Idaho 55 to Glenwood Street, and Glenwood from State to Chinden Boulevard (U.S. 20/26) is scheduled to begin in early May and expected to be complete in June. The roadway is deteriorated, cracked and rutted, and this project will significantly extend the life of the roadway and result in a smoother ride.
Approximately 43,000 vehicles per day travel the sections of State and Glenwood resurfaced in this project. That number is expected to increase to 62,500 by 2030.
To minimize impacts during peak traffic hours in this project, crews will work an extremely aggressive schedule, which will include overnight and weekend shifts. This get-in, get-out approach is intended to shorten the length of construction and reduce the inconvenience to nearby residents, businesses and the traveling public.
During peak commuter hours (5:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. weekdays), two lanes will remain open in each direction. At all other times during construction, at least one lane in each direction will remain open.
During construction, access will remain open to businesses and residents in the construction area.
Central Paving Co. Inc. Boise is the contractor on this $4.4 million project.
MERIDIAN - Eagle Road Underpass pathway
Work is under way to build a pathway underneath the Boise River's North Channel structure, connecting the Greenbelt on the east and west sides of Idaho 55 in Eagle.
This project will construct 260 feet of 10-foot-wide multi-use pathway.
The project is expected to be complete in late April.
McAlvain Excavation Inc. of Boise is the contractor on this $184,000 project.
The city of Eagle is the local sponsor, and also is a financial contributor to this Federal Transportation Enhancement project.
CANYON COUNTY
CALDWELL - Franklin and 21st road and bridge project
A project is under way to reconstruct a one-quarter mile section of 21st Avenue in Caldwell and build a new bridge over the Notus Canal by July.
The 21st Avenue intersection with Franklin Road is about one-quarter mile west of the newly reconstructed Franklin Road Interchange (Exit 29) in Caldwell.
The 21st Avenue leg of the intersection will be closed from Franklin to Chicago through May.
The current three-lane 21st Avenue is being reconstructed into a five-lane urban roadway. The work includes excavation, base, pavement, siphon culvert structure, storm-sewer drainage, and installation of curb, gutter, sidewalk and ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)-compliant pedestrian ramps.
Central Paving Co. Inc. of Boise is the contractor on this $2.6 million project.
CALDWELL - Linden and 10th Intersection improvement
A project to improve the intersection of Linden Street and 10th Avenue in Caldwell is now under way.
Intersection improvements include installation of a new traffic signal, irrigation work, a standard five-foot concrete sidewalk, curb, gutter, 200 to 300 feet of roadway approach work and signage.
Idaho Sand & Gravel Co. of Nampa is the contractor on this $460,915 project, which is expected to finish by April 15.
NAMPA - U.P.R.R. 16th Avenue Bridge repair
A project to repair the Union Pacific Railroad 16th Avenue Bridge in Nampa is under way.
Traffic will initially be shifted over to the two northbound lanes, with those lanes dedicated to maintaining one lane of traffic in each direction.
In addition to repairing the deck on this four-lane bridge, the work also includes replacing expansion joints and performing sidewalk replacement repairs on the 750-foot bridge.
Idaho Construction Company Inc. of Kimberly is the contractor on this $1 million project, which is expected to be completed this summer.
ELMORE COUNTY
MOUNTAIN HOME - Idaho 67 (Airbase Rd) and Idaho 51 (Bruneau Hwy) intersection improvement
Improvements to the intersection of Idaho 67 (Airbase Road) and Idaho 51 (Bruneau Highway) are under way.
A traffic signal will be added, as will turn lanes on both the Idaho 51 and Elmcrest Street legs of the intersection. On the five-lane Airbase Road leg of the intersection, one lane will remain open in each direction, as will the center-turn lane. At Elmcrest Street and Idaho 51, one lane will remain open during work and flaggers will help guide traffic.
The roads will remain open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day during the project. Because of noise restrictions, work is not planned overnight.
Paving continues with pavement stripping beginning early next week (April 20-24) if the weather cooperates. The signal at the intersection is also scheduled to begin next week.
WF Construction & Sales LLC of Meridian is the contractor on this $514,000 project.
The project is expected to be complete by mid-May.
GEM COUNTY
EMMETT - Payette River Bridge improvement
The bridge deck of the Payette River Bridge on Idaho 52 in Emmett will be improved in this project.
An inch and a half of the old surface will be removed, with two inches of new concrete added to the surface. This thicker, more dense surface material can extend the life of the bridge significantly.
One lane of traffic will be maintained across the bridge during the project. Flaggers will guide motorists initially, but temporary signals on both the north and south ends of the bridge will be used to control traffic for the remainder of the project.
The existing bridge was built in 1971. Over time, the effects of age, traffic and road salts from de-icing in the winter have contributed to a deterioration of the concrete on the deck surface. The other parts of the bridge (such as girders and piers) are still in good condition.
Braun-Jensen of Boise is the contractor on this $375,000 project, which is expected to be finished early this summer.
OWYHEE COUNTY
HOMEDALE - Snake River Bridge improvement
This project will improve the Snake River Bridge on U.S. 95 at Homedale, restoring and overlaying the bridge deck, which consists of two 16-foot travel lanes with a sidewalk on the west side.
The project is expected to be complete by Memorial Day.
Traffic on the bridge was switched over April 16. Motorists had been using the inbound lane (as if traveling from Wilder to Homedale) - it switched to the outbound lane (as if traveling from Homedale to Wilder).
The project is due to finish up before Memorial Day, if the weather holds. Crews were about a week ahead of schedule, then lost that week due to wind and lower temperatures. The concrete overlay on the bridge deck requires a temperature of at least 45 degrees.
One lane of the bridge will be closed. Temporary traffic signals will be used on both the east and west ends of the project to control the remaining open lane. Flaggers also may be used during the project.
The bridge was built in 1969, with no significant repairs since. An extra inch of thickness will be added to the bridge deck (driving surface) during the overlay. The approaches on both the north and south ends also will be repaved for 50 feet. In addition, the bridge joints will be replaced and one of the piers patched. Fifty feet of curb and gutter also will be replaced and 27 feet of guardrail reset.
Concrete Placing Co. Inc. of Boise is the contractor on this $639,000 project.
The temporary signals continue to be adjusted to minimize the time it takes to clear traffic back-ups while still allocating necessary green and red time to side streets and approaches.
PAYETTE COUNTY
NEW PLYMOUTH - Pedestrian pathway project
This project will reconstruct 987 feet of sidewalk and construct ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)-compliant ramps - with greater radius to accommodate wheelchairs - through downtown New Plymouth.
The contractor is placing rock on the south side of the roadway, and pouring concrete for curb and getter. Textured concrete for the sidewalk is expected to be complete by April 15.
The project is expected to be complete by mid-May.
Diamond Contractors of Eagle is the contractor on this $257,000 project. The city of New Plymouth has also partnered in funding this Transportation Enhancement project.
PAYETTE - 7th Avenue North improvement
A project is under way to improve about one-half mile of 7th Avenue North in Payette, which leads to McCain Middle School and the Western Idaho Community Action Partnership (WICAP) Head Start. The construction project extends from 11th to 18th streets on 7th Avenue and crosses U.S. 95.
The road will be rebuilt and widened with new curbs, gutters and pedestrian ramps per ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) standards.
East of U.S. 95, the contractor has completed all the irrigation installations. On the roadway, crews have already scraped down to the subgrade and have started bringing in dirt and rock to raise the excavated roadway surface back to level. Paving will follow. The road remains closed east of U.S. 95.
Slight traffic delays may be incurred when the contractor is working near U.S. 95 at the intersection of U.S. 95 and 7th Ave. North.
The canal bridge is completed, and irrigation lines set.
The canal bridge is about 500 feet from the intersection. Improvements in this project include wider lanes over the top of the bridge, with five-foot sidewalks and bike lanes added on each side.
Crews also are making improvements to the irrigation system for the Lower Payette Canal. The old concrete pipes have been replaced with new PVC pipe.
Following the completion of work each day, restrictions will be lifted and full use of U.S. 95 will be allowed.
West of U.S. 95, 7th Avenue is open at night, but east of U.S. 95, 7th Avenue is closed due to the canal bridge construction.
The project also will include storm-sewer installation to handle water run-off.
Knife River is the contractor on this $1.5 million project, which is expected to be complete in early July.
WASHINGTON COUNTY
MIDVALE HILL - rest area improvement project
A project to upgrade the rest area on U.S. 95 at Midvale Hill has begun. The rest area is now closed to the public.
This project will rehabilitate the existing rest area - built in 1987 - and caretaker facilities, create additional truck parking, and include other repairs. The rest room building is being completely reconstructed.
Erosion control measures and earthwork have begun on the project. The earthwork will widen the parking area for commercial trucks.
The rest area will be closed during this project, and signs will be posted in Cambridge and Weiser to announce the closure. No temporary facilities are planned during this work. The project is expected to finish by August.
WF Construction & Sales LLC of Meridian is the contractor on this $1.4 million project.
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.
Crews built one half of the new bridge and switched traffic to that section Dec. 4, 2008. The old bridge is being demolished - it is about 70 percent done - and the other half of the new bridge will be built in its place.
Only one lane of traffic can safely pass over the new bridge section. To accommodate traffic crossing over the bridge in opposite directions, portable signals are being used.
Concrete for the pier caps on the new bridge has been poured.
An incident involving a crane toppling off the work bridge (not the traffic-carrying bridge) on April 6 set the project back three to four weeks due to damage to three girders. There also are a number of pier repairs that need to be made.
The right and left ramps on the Idaho side of the bridge are closed. Traffic must follow the detour to access Old Highway 70. In addition, any traffic 12 feet or wider and/or taller than 14 feet 2 inches will need to detour through Payette.
The original bridge was built in 1903, with an additional span added in 1911. Traffic signals were added in 1949. The bridge was replaced in the 1950s - that's the one being replaced in this project. 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.
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 the early winter. 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.