7/6/2009
Construction on Idaho 28 between Baker and Salmon to begin Thursday (July 9)
RIGBY ‑ Construction on Idaho 28 south of Salmon will begin Thursday (July 9), the Idaho Transportation Department announced.
Crews will repave nine miles of Idaho 28 between Baker and Salmon (mileposts 126‑135). The project will improve safety and comfort for motorists and will extend the life of the highway surface.
Travel will be reduced to one lane, with flaggers directing traffic through the work zone. The speed limit in the construction area will be reduced to 55 mph, and a width restriction of 12 feet will be in force for commercial vehicles. Work will take place on weekdays between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
During construction, motorists can expect delays of up to 15 minutes.
The project is scheduled for completion by September.
The transportation department will use a process called cold in‑place recycling, which involves remixing pavement materials in place without heat. Recycling agent (lime) is added to the mixture, which is then applied to the roadway and compacted. The surface is then re-rolled seven days later, and the road is overlaid with a final layer of new pavement.
The project also will include seal coating, which involves spraying liquid asphalt on the highway and spreading a layer of crushed rock over it to protect pavement from weather damage and provide a semi‑rough surface for improved vehicle traction. After applying the seal coat, crews will paint yellow center lines and white edge stripes, and add other pavement markings.
HK Contractors Inc. of Idaho Falls is the contractor on this $2.3 million project.
The transportation department urges motorists to drive carefully in and near construction zones. Orange highway signs with black letters or symbols and orange flags indicate construction activity ahead, even if the work cannot be observed immediately.
Drivers should anticipate merging traffic, construction personnel and equipment, flaggers and pilot cars, and can experience uneven surfaces in construction areas.
The Idaho State Police reminds motorists that fines may double for work zone traffic violations.
For construction information on state highways, access the Idaho Traveler Services Web site at 511.idaho.gov, or dial 5‑1‑1 from phones within Idaho. Outside Idaho, dial toll‑free (888) 432‑7623. Reports are updated as road conditions change.