5/8/2009
Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov
Southwest Idaho highway construction report for May 8-15
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 are working 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 pre-fabricated bridge was put in place over the channel this morning (Friday, May 8). The project is expected to conclude by late May.
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
Beginning at 6 p.m. this evening (Friday, May 8) traffic signals will be turned off, flaggers will guide motorists, and traffic will be reduced to one lane at the intersection of State and Glenwood through the weekend. This is for 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). 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.
The project entails also a number of significant safety improvements, including traffic-separating measures such as raised medians and half pork chop-shaped islands, as well as more than 60 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant intersection improvements on public streets.
This work is necessary to restore the pavement surface in this section of highway, which has not been improved in more than 20 years. It is necessary to do this work during the warmer months because the asphalt requires a minimum temperature to set up properly.
Central Paving Co. Inc. Boise is the contractor on this $4.4 million project.
The project is expected to finish in late June.
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 is pouring concrete for the northbound lanes, and is expected to begin working on the southbound lanes in mid-June.
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.
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 complete, and the contractor working 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.
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.
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.
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.