7/24/2009
500 West Overpass near Rupert to be repaired beginning Monday (July 27)
RUPERT - A major short-cut for drivers in Minidoka County will soon be restored by the Idaho Transportation Department with work being done on the 500 West bridge over Interstate 84 beginning Monday, July 27.
Work to replace a steel-reinforced cement girder over the westbound lanes will begin with crews cutting away the guardrail, road deck and the damaged girder before placing the new girder on Aug. 5.
The girder was damaged when a semi tractor-trailer hauling a load exceeding the legal height limit of 14 feet struck the overpass on Jan. 9. The impact caused concrete debris to fall onto the roadway, damaging four other vehicles and requiring the closure of the overpass.
A single-lane closure will be in effect for westbound traffic at the overpass during working hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.), Monday through Friday. On the night of Aug. 5, westbound traffic will be detoured to the I-84 business loop at the Heyburn/Burley exit (Exit 211) through Burley and onto I-84 at Burley/Paul (Exit 208). The detour is expected to last from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Cannon Builders Inc. of Blackfoot is the contractor for the $112,000 construction project. The project is expected to be complete and the road opened to traffic by late September.
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.