7/28/2009
Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov
Gov. Otter to kick off Vista Avenue Interchange reconstruction at ceremony in Boise Aug. 5
BOISE - Governor
C.L. "Butch" Otter will lead a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday, Aug. 5 at
10 a.m., to start construction of a new Interstate 84/Vista Interchange. The $17.8 million project will create jobs, stimulate economic activity, improve motorist
safety and reduce congestion.
The interchange construction will be funded with federal stimulus money and is
estimated to sustain or create approximately 320 jobs. The Vista Interchange is
a primary access to the Boise airport, downtown Boise and Boise State University.
"As we work to
recruit and retain employment opportunities here in the Treasure Valley, the
Vista Interchange is one of the first impressions that visiting business people
get of Idaho after arriving in Boise," said Gov. Otter. "Beyond the jobs and economic
activity this project will create directly, having a safe corridor of commerce
at the very gateway to our community is essential to providing the kind of
environment where people want to bring their families and their business."
Joining the Governor will be Idaho Senate Transportation Committee
Chair John McGee, Boise Mayor Dave Bieter and Boise Airport Director Richard
McConnell. The ceremony will be on West Elder Street (just west of Vista
Avenue, north of the interchange).
The new interchange will be the first in Idaho to use a single point urban
design. The 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.
Central Paving Inc. of Boise is the contractor on the project. Construction is
expected to complete by September 2010.
MEDIA NOTE (not for dissemination):
Video/photos: Video clips
and photos of the ceremony will be available on Aug. 5 after 1 p.m. for
downloading from the Idaho Transportation Department's FTP site:
ftp://ftp1.idaho.gov.
Log on with the user name itdcommu
and use the password W39gy7D2.
For those who do not have FTP software, the video and photos can be retrieved
from http://itd.idaho.gov/news
ITD alsowillhave Brollavailable for use.
Radio: Audio clips
from the Aug. 5 ceremony will be e-mailed directly to radio stations following
the ceremony.