7/10/2009
Sand Creek Byway construction update
COEUR D'ALENE - Motorists are advised to watch for changes in driving conditions that are part of the Sand Creek Byway construction project, the Idaho Transportation Department announced.
Following is a list of areas where construction activity will be taking place. Over the next two to three weeks, motorists can expect the following:
LOCATION:
South causeway, new southbound lane from downtown to Long Bridge (on southwest side of U.S. 95 opposite the former snow storage area) and east side of U.S. 95 adjacent to railroad tracks.
ACTIVITIES:
Paving of a temporary traffic lane on the east side of U.S. 95 is scheduled for Tuesday, July 14 from the hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Two-lane traffic will be maintained with occasional interruptions to accommodate the asphalt trucks. Subsequent sandblasting and striping operations are tentatively scheduled for Thursday, July 16 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Two-lane traffic will be maintained with intermittent reductions to one lane as required.
Surcharge material along the retaining wall for the southbound lane will be allowed to settle for one more week. Surcharge material removal will follow.
Phase one fill installation for the rail line embankment will be allowed to settle for one more week. Phase two fill installation will follow.
IMPACTS: Trucks will be entering and exiting U.S. 95 from these areas. Flaggers will guide traffic through the work zone. Additional traffic controls will be utilized as necessary. Expect delays.
LOCATION: The former snow storage area.
ACTIVITIES: Material trucks will be entering and exiting U.S. 95. Pier cap construction for pier one of the mainline bridge has begun. Pier footing construction and concrete pour for pier two of the mainline bridge is complete. Pier stem construction and concrete pour is also complete. The pier cap concrete pour for pier three of the mainline bridge is complete. Pier three construction is complete. Sheet pile removal and backfill will be completed at a later date. Form assembly for abutment one of the southbound off-ramp is anticipated to begin in two weeks. Concrete pour will follow.
IMPACTS: Trucks will be entering and exiting U.S. 95 from these areas; flaggers will guide traffic through the work zone. Equipment crossing signs and stop signs will remain on the bike path.
LOCATION: The former site of the Lakeside Inn and adjacent shoreline.
ACTIVITIES: Production pile driving for pier four of the mainline bridge is ongoing. Pier footing construction for pier two of the southbound off-ramp is anticipated to begin in one week. Installation of permanent sheet piles and H-piles for the abutment and roadway south of Bridge Street Bridge is ongoing. Stage one of the retaining wall construction will follow. Phase three construction of the test embankment is pending.
IMPACTS: Trucks will be entering and exiting Bridge Street from First Avenue (Excavation trucks will no longer be using Bridge Street); flaggers will be utilized to facilitate the smooth flow of traffic. Street sweeping will be performed on an as needed basis. There will be pile driving noise during construction work hours.
LOCATION: Shoreline extension area, east side of Sand Creek from Bridge Street to Cedar Street Bridge.
ACTIVITIES: Roadway sheet pile driving is ongoing. Remaining fill for the shoreline extension will be installed at a later date.
IMPACTS: Trucks will be entering and exiting Bridge Street from First Avenue; flaggers will be utilized to facilitate the smooth flow of traffic. Temporary closure of the pedestrian walkway at the eastern end of the Cedar Street Bridge. No vehicular access to, or parking at, the east end of Cedar Street Bridge. Depot access and the depot parking lot remain open. There will be pile driving noise during construction work hours.
LOCATION: North bike-pedestrian path, east side of Sand Creek north of Cedar Street Bridge.
ACTIVITIES: No active construction at this time. Remaining fill for the north bike-pedestrian path will be installed at a later date.
IMPACTS: No vehicular access to, or parking at, the east end of Cedar Street Bridge. Depot access and the depot parking lot remain open.
LOCATION: Mainline alignment north of Larch Street.
ACTIVITIES: Brushing and grubbing is ongoing. Mass excavation is ongoing. Roadway sheet pile driving in the vicinity of the railroad trestle is anticipated to begin in two weeks.
IMPACTS: Trucks will be entering and exiting U.S. 95 and Idaho 200 from this area; traffic controls and flaggers will be utilized to facilitate the smooth flow of traffic. Street sweeping will be performed on an as needed basis.
LOCATION: Northwest interchange area east of the U.S. 95/U.S. 2 and Idaho 200 junction - also known as the "Y."
ACTIVITIES: Brushing and grubbing is ongoing. Mass excavation on both sides of Idaho 200 east of the "Y" is ongoing. Storm water pond excavation north of the "Y" on the west side of U.S. 95 is ongoing. The temporary storm water treatment facility adjacent to the storm water retention pond (east of U.S. 95) is operational.
IMPACTS: Trucks will be entering and exiting U.S. 95 and Idaho 200 from this area; traffic controls and flaggers will be utilized to facilitate the smooth flow of traffic. Street sweeping will be performed on an as needed basis.
Construction work hours: Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Weekly project meetings will be held at 11 a.m. every Thursday in the Transportation Information Office in Sandpoint. Weekly construction updates will be published in the Bonner County Daily Bee.
E-mail updates can be sent to interested parties.
Follow the construction project on the Web by going to: itd.idaho.gov. Click on Projects, then North Idaho, then click on Sand Creek Byway. It is listed under the Projects Under Construction headline.
For traffic information on this project and other highway construction throughout northern Idaho, call 5-1-1 or go to www.511.idaho.gov
For additional information, contact the: Transportation Information Office, 202 North Second Avenue, Suite B, Sandpoint, ID 83864, Phone: 208-265-0897, Fax: 208-255-7036, E-mail: tio@sandpoint.net