8/3/2009
I-84 between Burley, Rupert to be detoured for 500 West overpass work
BURLEY - The Idaho Transportation Department advises motorists that replacement of a girder to the 500 West Road overpass on Interstate 84 in Minidoka County will require closure of the westbound lanes between the Heyburn and Burley exits Wednesday night (Aug. 5).
Westbound traffic will be detoured Wednesday night and Thursday morning (between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.). The traffic will be diverted onto the I-84 business loop through Heyburn and Burley between exits 211 and 208. Crews will need the area around the overpass to install a new girder that spans the westbound lanes of I-84.
Work to replace the steel-reinforced cement girder began last week when crews started cutting away the guardrail, road deck and the damaged girder. After installation, crews will reconstruct the road deck and guardrail.
For the remainder of project, a single-lane closure will be in effect for westbound traffic at the overpass during working hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays through Fridays.
The project is expected to continue through September.
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, damaged four vehicles and required closure of the overpass.
Cannon Builders Inc. of Blackfoot is the contractor for the $112,000 construction project.
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.