6/4/2009
Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov
UPDATE: Pavement resurfacing on Idaho 55 near Cougar Mountain Lodge to get under way Monday (June 8)
BOISE - A pavement rehabilitation project to extend the life of the roadway and create a smoother ride for motorists on a five-mile stretch (milepost 97.3 - 101.6) of Idaho 55 from Smiths Ferry to Round Valley is expected to begin Monday (June 8), the Idaho Transportation Department announced. The project is expected to be complete by early August.
Traffic restrictions (one-lane closures) are expected to begin Tuesday (June 9). Depending on the location and duration of the closures, traffic may be guided by pilot cars.
The project starts about 500 feet south of Cougar Mountain Lodge. The roadway is a narrow, winding route, and the narrow shoulders and tight curves contribute to an accident rate one and one-half times higher than the statewide average. The project will not include any approaches or any realignment. The roadway travel surfaces on either end of the project have already been addressed.
Within a few days of the completion of this project, the project surface will be seal coated, along with the stretch of roadway north from Round Valley Creek Road to the Clear Creek Lodge which was resurfaced two years ago.
No weekend or holiday work is anticipated. In addition, truck lengths and/or widths will not be restricted.
Work hours on the project are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7 a.m. to noon on Fridays.
During the project, existing culverts will be replaced, the roadway surface milled and new pavement inlayed.
Idaho Sand & Gravel of Nampa is the contractor for this $1.5 million project.
On June 18, there will be a closure on the Rainbow Bridge in the northbound lane for work on the two intermediate rail posts in the center of the bridge damaged in an accident in July 2007. This work is being performed under a separate contract.
ITD, the Idaho State Police and local law enforcement 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.