5/22/2009
Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov
Southwest Idaho weekly highway construction report for May 22-29
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 completing 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.
The contractor is completing some final touch-up items and is expected to be finished early next week (May 26-30).
The pre-fabricated bridge was put in place over the channel May 8.
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
Crews will not work over the Memorial Day weekend, but are expected to begin resurfacing State Street next week (May 26-30), heading west from Walmart toward the Idaho 55 intersection in the eastbound lanes. The bulk of the work on Glenwood Street was finished this week.
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. - 7 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.
BOISE COUNTY
IDAHO CITY - pedestrian pathway
Recreational users will benefit from a multi-use pathway under way in Idaho City. The Idaho Transportation Department-administered project is expected to be finished by the end of May.
The pathway will be built south of and parallel to Idaho 21, beginning at the ITD maintenance yard a few hundred feet east of Main Street in Idaho City and extending east to Boise Basin Community Park. The trail - 2,850 feet long and 10 feet wide - will accommodate equestrian, bicycling, walking and other non-motorized recreational activities.
All construction activities will take place off the highway, so no traffic impacts are anticipated.
The Federal Transportation Enhancement project is based on a 2004 TE application.
Granite Excavation Inc. of Nampa is the contractor on this $95,000 project. Idaho City is also participating financially in this 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 is closed. Traffic is being detoured at Chicago Avenue to Franklin Road.
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 - Logan & 10th intersection improvement project
A project to improve the intersection of Logan Street and 10th Avenue in Caldwell is now under way. The project will widen the roadway and includes installation of a traffic signal.
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 mid-August.
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 has completed the concrete overlay in the northbound lane. All of the work on the northbound lane should be done in a couple of weeks, and then the contractor will shift to the southbound 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.
PAYETTE COUNTY
NEW PLYMOUTH - Pedestrian pathway project
This project is reconstructing 987 feet of sidewalk and adding 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..
The project is expected to be complete by early June.
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 ongoing 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.
Work on the roadway east of the U.S. 95 and 7th Ave. North intersection has been completed. The contractor has set detour signs for work on the west portion of 7th Avenue North and U.S. 95 intersection. The road is closed to through traffic and the contractor will make every effort to not impede residents along the work zone.
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. 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.
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 late fall. 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.