7/10/2009
Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov
Southwest Idaho highway construction report for July 10-17
BOISE - Following is an update on interstate and state highway construction projects in southwest Idaho.
ADA COUNTY
EAST BOISE - Idaho 21, Diversion Dam to Sandy Point and Jct. I-84/Idaho 21 (Exit 57) resurfacing
Whether you're behind the wheel of a car or truck, or peddling on two wheels, the ride from Diversion Dam to Sandy Point on Idaho 21 will soon be a whole lot smoother as the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) repairs and repaves the roadway and bike path along the scenic two-mile stretch.
Crews will begin putting up signs next week, with construction starting on July 20. The project involves a 1.8-inch overlay utilizing the SALSA method of resurfacing - Stress Absorbing Layer of Straight Asphalt, which helps to minimize roadway surface cracking. Allow for extra time when driving through the area.
ITD has a cooperative agreement with Ada County to overlay a portion of the bike path running parallel with the northbound lane of Idaho 21 in this area. The popular path will be closed for two weeks, from July 20 to August 4, although every effort will be made to reopen the path as soon as possible.
To see a map of the area in question click here: http://itd.idaho.gov/images/Diversion_Dam_to_San.jpg
This key path section has not been repaved since originally constructed in the 1980s. Time and weather have deteriorated the paving surface over those 20+ years, so users must navigate frequent cracks and bumps in the riding surface. State and County governments doing this work together in one contract will save significant amounts of taxpayer money.
As this work wraps up in late July/early August, a resurfacing project at the Idaho 21 exit off I-84 (Exit 57) is slated to begin, extending to Federal Way.
Staker & Parson Companies dba Idaho Sand & Gravel Co. of Nampa is the contractor on the $1.1 million project.
BOISE - Five Mile bridge resurfacing
The Five Mile bridge between Franklin and Overland over I-84 will be resurfaced and repaired in a project beginning at 9 a.m. Monday (July 13). The project is expected to finish by August 3.
On Monday morning after the work commute, the bridge will be closed as crews set up traffic control and complete survey work. On Tuesday morning, initial work on the bridge deck will begin.
In addition to the closure of the bridge itself, there will also be intermittent overnight (10 p.m. to 5 a.m.) closures or restrictions to the I-84 lanes under the bridge for the safety of the traveling public when work is taking place directly above those areas. There are four lanes in each direction on the interstate under the bridge, and at least two lanes will remain open.
To expedite repairs, the bridge will be completely closed for a period of about three weeks, from about 500 feet back of each the approaches on each side. This "get in, get out" schedule includes several benefits:
- Construction is reduced from 40 days to approximately 25 days or fewer.
- Full flow of traffic is restored nearly two weeks earlier than if the bridge were to remain open.
- The finished roadway surface is constructed in one efficient process.
- A cost savings is expected. By closing the bridge, standard construction costs such as temporary traffic signals, and the need for flaggers, are automatically eliminated.
Additional improvements (such as additional travel lanes, bike lanes or sidewalks) are not planned as part of this project. Improvements of that magnitude would require total replacement of the bridge structure, and funding for such an extensive project is not currently available.
The Five Mile Bridge, built in 1966, carries more than 18,000 vehicles a day. By 2031, average daily traffic is projected to exceed 19,250.
The bridge is part of a heavily-traveled north-south corridor in west Boise, adjacent to residential, retail and business centers, making it an important transportation link in the area.
Trinity Construction of Boise is the contractor for this $275,000 project.
ADAMS COUNTY
CAMBRIDGE -Superior Street/Mill Road improvements
A project to improve Superior Street/Mill Road at the north end of Cambridge is expected to begin July 20.
This project, off the state highway system, involves improving 1,300 feet of roadway and replacing the existing bridge on Rush Creek with a new single-span bridge.
To improve drainage, the two-lane roadway is going to be paved curb-to-curb, with curb, gutter, parking stalls and sidewalk work included.
The contractor intends to keep the south half of Superior Street open to through traffic and close off the north half (adjacent to the removed bridge) except to local traffic.
Crews will work an 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule Monday through Friday. No weekend or holiday work is expected.
Hap Taylor & Sons Inc. dba Knife River (Boise) is the contractor on this $922,000 project.
Although ITD is administering the contract, the project itself comes under the jurisdiction of the Local Highway Technical Advisory Council (LHTAC). The city of Cambridge is the local sponsor of this project, and a financial contributor.
The project is expected to finish in late October.
CANYON COUNTY
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.
Crews began removing asphalt in the intersection and repaving this week.
WF Construction & Sales of Meridian is the contractor on this $284,000 project.
Work is expected to be completed by mid-August.
CALDWELL - Indian Creek Bridges replacement
Work on two deteriorated bridges (21st and 11th Avenue structures) that span Indian Creek resumed on July 7 after a short hiatus for the holiday weekend. The bridges are being replaced to improve their structural integrity and extend the life of the roadway.
Crews are excavating and installing temporary shoring for the new bridge abutments at 11th Avenue and Arthur Street. Traffic continues to be detoured around the site because the old structure has been removed, exposing Indian Creek. Business access remains open and signs are in place to direct customers.
To minimize noise impacts to nearby residents, crews are limiting work hours between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Additional measures, such as equipment mufflers, intake silencers and engine enclosures are also being used to reduce noise from construction equipment.
Crews working on the 21st Avenue bridge near Chicago Street and are in the process of replacing the bridge abutments. The bridge is being widened to four lanes (two lanes in each direction) to better serve the well-traveled route between Interstate 84 and The College of Idaho. Two lanes of traffic are being maintained during construction and business access on 21st remains open. Temporary signs are in place to direct customers.
Removal of the existing bridge and construction of the new concrete bridge is being completed in two phases. During the first phase, the east portion of the bridge is being removed and reconstructed, and traffic is routed onto the existing bridge. During the second phase, traffic will shift to the completed portion of the new bridge while the other half is reconstructed.
Construction on both bridges is expected to be complete in November 2009.
Braun-Jensen of Payette is the contractor on this $2.3 million project. This is a Local Highway Technical Assistance Council project sponsored by the city of Caldwell.
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.
Traffic was recently moved from the southbound lanes to the completed northbound lanes. The contractor placed erosion and sediment-control devices up and has begun to do the first stage of deck removal with hydro-blasting equipment.
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 Resurfacing project
A project to treat and preserve the highway surface on a 24-mile stretch of I-84 east of Mountain Home is under way. The project is expected to finish by late July.
A sealer will be applied to cracks in the concrete surface from milepost 90 to 114 to ward off continued deterioration. Prior to the sealer application, the cracks will be repaired and some individual concrete slabs replaced.
The lane restrictions for crack repair and sealer application will be removed at the end of each work day.
During lane closures, the speed limit will be reduced to 45 mph in the project area and allowable widths reduced to 14 feet.
American Civil Contractors from Benicia, Calif., is the contractor on this $2.4 million project.
PAYETTE COUNTY
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 now has begun on placing and compacting three-quarter-inch aggregate gravel for the road base in preparation for new curb and gutter.
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.
VALLEY COUNTY
NEAR COUGAR MOUNTAIN LODGE- Idaho 55, Smiths Ferry to Round Valley resurfacing
A pavement rehabilitation project to extend the life of the roadway and create a smoother ride for motorists on a five-mile stretch (milepost 97-102) of Idaho 55 from Smiths Ferry to Round Valley is under way. The project is expected to be complete by early August.
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 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.
The pipe replacement work is finishing up. Milling of the surface is expected to start next week (week of July 13-17), with paving starting one day later.
Idaho Sand & Gravel of Nampa is the contractor on this $1.5 million project.
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 October.
Slabs, foundations and masonry are complete for the restroom building, storage building and volunteer enclosure. Masonry is complete on the restroom building and volunteer enclosure. Rough framing on the restroom building and volunteer enclosure is complete. The erection of the steel shade structure that will cover the new caretaker residence is complete. Placement of three-quarter inch base material for the road and parking areas is complete.
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.
Both abutments on the Idaho side of the bridge have been finished.
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 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.