5/1/2009
Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov
Southwest Idaho weekly highway construction report for May 1-8
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 187-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.
Abutments were placed on both sides of the river April 23. Two sections of the pre-fabricated bridge arrived April 30 and the remaining two sections are expected to arrive Sunday (May 3). In the coming weeks, the bridge will be assembled and put in place over the channel. The project is expected to conclude by late May.
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.
The city of Eagle is also participating financially in the project.
GARDEN CITY/BOISE - Idaho 44, State & Glenwood Pavement Rehabilitation
The pavement rehabilitation project to repair and resurface from State Street at Idaho 55 to Glenwood Street, and Glenwood from State to Chinden Boulevard (U.S. 20/26) is expected to begin by 6 p.m. Monday (May 4) and be completed six weeks later, in late 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.
The initial work on this project involves milling the Glenwood Street area from the Boise River Bridge to Chinden Boulevard. Weather permitting, this is expected to finish by mid-May.
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 nearly complete on a project 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. All that remains is some work on a handrail, fencing and minor landscaping restoration. The project is expected to finish in the next week.
This project is constructing 260 feet of 10-foot-wide multi-use pathway.
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. Paving on 21st is expected to begin by the end of April.
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.
Asphalt is now being placed on 21st Avenue. When completed, traffic will be shifted to the new pavement, and the reconstruction of Franklin Boulevard will begin.
Central Paving Co. Inc. of Boise is the contractor on this $2.6 million project.
CALDWELL - Logan & 10th intersection improvement project
A project to improve the intersection of Logan Street and 10th Avenue in Caldwell is now under way.
Motorists will be controlled by flaggers at the intersection. Flaggers will let one direction of traffic through at a time.
This project will reconstruct the intersection, adding turn lanes and replacing the traffic signal, controllers and traffic-control cabinet.
WF Construction & Sales of Meridian is the contractor on this $284,000 project.
Work is expected to be completed by June.
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.
The contractor began placing concrete today (Friday, May 1) on the north half of the northbound lanes. While the concrete on the north half cures, the contractor will continue surface removal on the south half of the northbound lanes.
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. The project is on schedule to be completed in late August.
ELMORE COUNTY
MOUNTAIN HOME - I-84 Overpass repairs
A project to repair the Mountain Home Overpass at exit 90 over I-84 is under way, and is expected to be finished soon. The work is expected to continue for approximately two weeks, ending in early May.
This project will repair the overpass at milepost 90 that was damaged by a commercial tractor trailer when struck in July 2007. Several steel girders and cross frames will be repaired. Work will occur during daytime hours. Because it involves welding, work is prohibited during nighttime hours when the glare from the welding could cause disorientation or confusion to motorists driving through the work zone.
The westbound traffic on I-84 will be restricted to one lane during repair operations, utilizing the inside westbound lane and shoulder if needed. Neither eastbound traffic on the interstate nor traffic on the bridge will be restricted.
RSCI of Meridian is the contractor for this $54,000 project.
GEM COUNTY
EMMETT - Payette River Bridge improvement
The bridge deck of the Payette River Bridge on Idaho 52 in Emmett is being improved in this project, which is expected to finish in the next week. Traffic control is expected to be removed from the bridge and both lanes re-opened to motorists by Monday or Tuesday (May 4-5), weather permitting.
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.
Work on the southbound lane has finished and traffic has been moved to that lane. The contractor also has finished the removal of the top few inches of bridge-deck surface in the northbound lane, and has begun work to complete the northbound bridge-deck removal and resurfacing.
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.
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.
The project is due to finish up before Memorial Day, if the weather holds.
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 from Elm to Ash streets.
Textured concrete has been poured for the sidewalk, and a sleeve (an open-ended pipe used for future city water line use) placed under Highway 30 in this location. A sleeve is sometimes used for added strength.
The sidewalk and ADA ramps are expected to be finished by Monday (May 4), at which time the contractor is planning to start work on the east side of the road. Crews will start on the north end of the road and work south, removing the sidewalk, asphalt, curb and gutter.
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.
All concrete work (curb and gutter, sidewalk, approaches) is complete.
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.
Demolition of the existing facilities is complete and the foundation for the new restroom building has begun. Site work for the rest area is about 25 percent complete.
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.