8/5/2009
Gov. Otter kicks off Vista Avenue Interchange reconstruction with ceremony today (Wednesday, Aug.5)
BOISE - Governor C.L. "Butch"
Otter joined area business and civic leaders this morning to launch a project
that will reconstruct the Interstate 84 Vista Interchange in Boise, improve
safety, reduce congestion and create or sustain over 320 jobs.
More than 100 people attended the ceremony and participated in the
groundbreaking.
"Vista is the gateway to the airport, downtown, the Capitol and Boise State
University," Governor Otter said. "A modern, safe interchange will position the
entire Treasure Valley for further economic growth and prosperity."
State
Senate Transportation Committee Chair John McGee emceed the event.
Since 342,000 people a month pass through the Boise Airport, improving the
Vista Interchange is a critical step in upgrading I-84.
"I
have had the privilege of attending similar events at the Franklin Interchange
in Caldwell, the Karcher Interchange in Nampa, the 10-Mile Interchange in
Meridian, and now Vista," said McGee. "Each project is bringing us closer
to a safer, less congested and modernized interstate and a brighter future."
The new interchange will be the first in Idaho to use a single point urban
design. This design has a single traffic light at the center of the interchange
to allow a more continuous, efficient flow of traffic.
The replacement of the 40-year-old Vista Interchange is the seventh of 10
planned projects to widen and modernize I-84 from Nampa to east Boise. The
first project, which started in 2007, lengthened and widened the Eagle Road
westbound off-ramp. The last project will widen the interstate between Franklin
and Garrity boulevards from two lanes in each direction to three lanes and is
planned to be complete in fall 2012.
The interchange will be complete in September 2010. Central Paving Co. of Boise
submitted the winning construction bid of $17.8 million.