8/21/2009
Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov
Southwest Idaho highway construction report for Aug. 21-28
BOISE -
The following projects are part of the GARVEE Transportation Program in
southwest Idaho, which uses funds from Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicle
(GARVEE) bonds to expedite highway projects.
BOISE - Interstate 84, Orchard Street Interchange
Work continues on a project
to reconstruct the Orchard Street Interchange in Boise.
The speed
limit on I-84 is 55 mph and shoulders are restricted in the project area. The
speed limit on surrounding roadways (Orchard Street, Wright Street, Victory
Road) is 25 mph. ITD advises motorists to be cautious of trucks and equipment.
Construction
is expected to be complete in spring 2010.
BOISE Interstate
84, Vista Avenue Interchange Reconstruction*
Work is under way to rebuild the interchange to reduce
congestion and accommodate future I-84 lanes.
Motorists are advised to drive with caution and watch for
trucks entering and exiting the median near the Vista Interchange.
Construction is expected to be complete in fall 2010.
* Design for the project was funded by GARVEE, but
project construction is funded through the federal stimulus program, created to
generate jobs and help boost Idaho's economy while upgrading our foundation for
future economic growth.
WEST TREASURE VALLEY - Interstate 84,
Garrity to Meridian widening
ITD is adding a third east- and westbound lane to I-84
between Nampa and Meridian.
Motorists are advised to continue to use caution when
heading westbound on I-84 near the Meridian Overpass. Construction trucks will
be merging with traffic in this area. The I-84
speed limit is 55 mph.
Construction
is expected to be complete in late fall 2009.
MERIDIAN Interstate 84, Ten Mile
Interchange construction
Work began in late July to replace the current Ten Mile
overpass.
Crews began pile driving on Aug. 17 at Ten Mile Road and Tasa Drive. This work involves driving steel piles into the ground to support the interchange foundation. To reduce nighttime noise, pile driving will only be allowed between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. Pile driving will continue through the fall.
Construction is expected to be complete in summer 2011.
In
addition, these GARVEE projects will begin this summer and fall:
BOISE Interstate
84, Cole Road to Broadway Avenue widening
Rebuild and widen freeway to add two new lanes, creating four in each direction.
Est. Start: Fall 2009
Est. Completion: Summer 2011
NAMPA - Interstate 84, Garrity Bridges
replacement
Replace two bridges with a single, wider bridge to allow
additional lanes on the interstate.
Est. Start: Fall 2009
Est. Completion: Winter 2010
ADA COUNTY
EAST BOISE - Idaho 21, Diversion Dam to Sandy Point and Jct. I-84/Idaho 21 (Exit 57) resurfacing
Crews are finishing work in the northbound lanes in the two-mile portion of Idaho 21 from Diversion Dam to Sandy Point. Next week (Aug. 24-28) crews will work on repaving in the southbound lanes in this stretch of highway.
Crews will begin work at the Idaho 21/Gowen exit (Exit 57) starting Aug. 31.
The initial work will be between the eastbound and westbound ramps in that area. The ramps will be repaved and cattle guards modified. The ramps will be closed each night through Sept. 4 from 6 p.m. to 5:30 a.m., with traffic detoured to the Eisenman Interchange during closures. The portion of Idaho 21 that runs under I-84 in the area also will be resurfaced.
In mid-September, crews will rebuild the eastbound off-ramp from I-84 at the Gowen Interchange due to severe rutting and cracking. For the eight days of the reconstruction, there will be a total closure of the eastbound off-ramp. Traffic will be detoured to Eisenman Road.
In addition, multiple video detection cameras will be installed for both north- and southbound traffic at the Gowen Road/Idaho 21 intersection through a cooperative agreement with ACHD.
Idaho Sand & Gravel Co. of Nampa is the contractor on the $1.1 million project.
CANYON COUNTY
CALDWELL - Indian Creek Bridges replacement
Crews have completed installation of the bridge deck for the first phase of the 21st Avenue bridge over Indian Creek.
Removal of the existing 21st Avenue bridge and construction of the new concrete bridge is being completed in two phases. During the first phase, the east portion of the bridge is removed and reconstructed, and traffic is routed onto the existing bridge. During the second phase, traffic will shift to the completed portion of the new bridge while the other half is reconstructed.
The bridge is being widened to four lanes (two lanes in each direction) to
better serve the well-traveled route between Interstate 84 and The College of
Idaho. Two lanes of traffic are being maintained during construction and
business access on 21st remains open. Temporary signs are in place
to direct customers.
Crews are also making progress replacing the deteriorated structure
over Indian Creek at 11th Avenue. Traffic
continues to be detoured around the 11th and Arthur Street structure
while the bridge abutments are being replaced. The old structure has been
removed, exposing Indian Creek. Business access remains open and signs are in
place to direct customers.
These projects will improve their structural integrity and extend the life of the roadway. Construction on both bridges is expected to be complete in November 2009.
Braun-Jensen of Payette is the contractor on this $2.3 million project. This is a Local Highway Technical Assistance Council project sponsored by the City of Caldwell.
OWYHEE COUNTY
Idaho 78 resurfacing, from its junction with Idaho 45 to Murphy
A project to resurface the nine-mile stretch of Idaho 78 between its junction with Idaho 45 and Murphy is under way. The project is expected to be complete in mid-September.
Crews are expected to begin paving Monday (Aug. 24). Pilot cars and flaggers will be used to guide and control traffic through the work zone.
The roadway surface will be overlayed from just before milepost 20 to milepost 29 with three inches of new asphalt. A SALSA (Stress-Absorbing Layer of Straight Asphalt) will be applied between the original surface and the overlay, creating a stronger and more durable surface.
Traffic on this two-lane rural highway will be reduced to one lane and pilot cars will guide motorists through the work zone. The speed limit also will be reduced to 45 mph.
Motorists can expect intermittent delays of up to 15 minutes during this work. Crews will work 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, with no weekend work anticipated.
The road was overlayed and rehabilitated using the Cement Recycled Asphalt Base Stabilization (CRABS) method about 10 years ago. The upcoming project will extend the life of the roadway and create a smoother ride for motorists for the next decade.
This route is primarily used by local traffic, as well as agricultural interests and trucks traveling to the hazardous waste facility near Grandview.
Central Paving Co. Inc. of Boise is the contractor on this $1.8 million project.
PAYETTE COUNTY
PAYETTE - 7th Avenue North improvement
A project is ongoing to improve about one-half mile of 7th Avenue North in Payette, which leads to McCain Middle School and the Western Idaho Community Action Partnership (WICAP) Head Start. The construction project extends from 11th to 18th streets on 7th Avenue and crosses U.S. 95.
The road will be rebuilt and widened with new curbs, gutters and pedestrian ramps per ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) standards.
The canal bridge is about 500 feet from the intersection. Improvements in this project include wider lanes over the top of the bridge, with five-foot sidewalks and bike lanes added on each side.
Knife River is the contractor on this $1.5 million project, which is expected to be complete in early September. Irrigation-related work cannot be done until water leaves the canal, however, so some final work cannot be completed until October or November.
VALLEY COUNTY
DONNELLY - Main Street resurfacing
With no more utility delays, the reconstruction of Main Street in Donnelly is progressing more rapidly.
This half-mile project consists of adding a left-turn bay onto Roseberry Street (milepost 131) and a two-way left-turn (center turn) lane through town, starting at Boulder Creek Bridge. The project also includes minor sidewalk additions, drainage improvements and traffic-access control.
The downtown section will be five lanes wide, and includes parking on each side. In addition, there will be new curb and gutter on each side and a new storm-drain system that includes underground pipe and ditches.
Crews will work from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 7 a.m. to noon on Fridays. No weekend work is expected. There are no length, weight or width load restrictions on the project.
Flaggers will be on hand throughout work hours to assist traffic and the public in and out of businesses and residences in the project vicinity. The contractor is required to maintain two-way traffic at night and on weekends.
Valley Paving & Asphalt of Cottonwood, Idaho, is the contractor for this $975,000 project.
The project is expected to be completed by late September or early October.
NEAR COUGAR MOUNTAIN LODGE- Idaho 55, Smiths Ferry to Round Valley resurfacing
A pavement rehabilitation project to extend the life of the roadway and create a smoother ride for motorists on a five-mile stretch (milepost 97-102) of Idaho 55 from Smiths Ferry to Round Valley is complete.
A seal coat will be applied to the new surface starting Aug. 24. Traffic will be restricted.
The seal coat will apply a protective surface to extend the life of the road and create a safer drive for motorists. The project starts about 500 feet south of Cougar Mountain Lodge. The project surface will be seal coated along with the stretch of roadway north from Round Valley Creek Road to the Clear Creek Lodge, which was resurfaced two years ago.
Idaho Sand & Gravel of Nampa is the contractor on the $1.5 million project resurfacing, and Snake River Construction of Twin Falls will be the main contractor for the seal coat, a $338,000 project.
WASHINGTON COUNTY
CAMBRIDGE - Superior Street/Mill Road improvements
A project to improve Superior Street/Mill Road at the north end of Cambridge is under way.
This project, off the state highway system, involves improving 1,300 feet of roadway and replacing the existing bridge on Rush Creek with a new single-span bridge.
The old bridge was removed Aug. 5 and work has begun on
the new bridge and storm sewer. Piles were driven this past week (Aug. 17-21), and road work has begun.
The contractor intends to keep the south half of Superior Street open to through traffic and close off the north half (adjacent to the removed bridge) to all except local traffic.
Crews will work an 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule Monday through Friday. No weekend or holiday work is expected.
Knife River (Boise) is the contractor on this $922,000 project.
Although ITD is administering the contract, the project itself comes under the jurisdiction of the Local Highway Technical Advisory Council (LHTAC). The city of Cambridge is the local sponsor of this project and a financial contributor.
The project is expected to finish in late October.
MIDVALE HILL - rest area improvement project
A project to upgrade the rest area on U.S. 95 at Midvale Hill is under way.
This project will rehabilitate the existing rest area - built in 1987 - and caretaker facilities, create additional truck parking, and include other repairs. The rest room building is being completely reconstructed.
The rest area will be closed during this project, and signs will be posted in Cambridge and Weiser to announce the closure. No temporary facilities are planned during this work. The project is expected to finish by October.
At last notice, masonry was complete on the
restroom building, volunteer enclosure and storage building, and the steel
shade structure to cover the new caretaker residence had been put up. Wood
framing, insulation, and sheetrock were complete, and electrical and mechanical
system installation was continuing on all three buildings.
Building
trim and soffit are in progress on the restroom building and storage
building. The open trusses in the vestibule and the sections of the
restroom building that are ready to be painted. The roofs of all three
buildings are covered with ice and rain shield, and metal roofing is
finished on the volunteer enclosure and partially
finished on the storage building.
Placement of three-quarter inch base material for the road and parking areas was complete. Light poles for the rest area also had been set.
WF Construction & Sales LLC of Meridian is the contractor on this $1.4 million project.
WEISER - Snake River Bridge replacement
The Snake River Bridge on the U.S. 95 Spur in Weiser is being replaced with a wider structure. The bridge connects Annex, Ore., to Weiser.
Crews are continuing to drill shafts and pour concrete. Motorists can expect intermittent nighttime restrictions during this work. The bridge will again be closed overnight Sunday (Aug. 23) for such work.
Crews built one half of the new bridge and switched traffic to that section. Only one lane of traffic can safely pass over the new bridge section. To accommodate traffic crossing over the bridge in opposite directions, portable signals are being used.
The right and left ramps on the Idaho side of the bridge are closed. Traffic must follow the detour to access Old Highway 70. In addition, any traffic 12 feet or wider and/or taller than 14 feet 2 inches will need to detour through Payette.
Both abutments on the Idaho side of the bridge have been finished.
Work on the overall project is about 75 percent complete.
The original bridge was built in 1903, with an additional span added in 1911. Traffic signals were added in 1949. The bridge was replaced in the 1950s - that's the one being replaced in this project. Once completed, the bridge will be 16 feet wider and able to carry greater traffic volumes. The highway on both sides of the bridge also will be reconstructed.
New curb, gutter and sidewalks are being reconstructed on the Idaho side of the bridge.
The speed limit is reduced to 25 mph on the Oregon side of the bridge.
Sletten Construction of Boise is the contractor on this $10 million project. The project is expected to be completed by winter. It originally was slated for completion in 2010, but crews are ahead of schedule.
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.