11/20/2009
Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov
Southwest Idaho highway construction report for Nov. 20-27
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.
An
eastbound lane on I-84 will be closed from 10 p.m. Friday (Nov. 20) to 5 a.m.
Saturday (Nov. 21) while crews hang sign brackets at the Orchard Interchange.
One east-
and westbound lane will be closed Saturday night (Nov. 21) at 10 p.m. until
Sunday at 5 a.m. while crews place a new sign at the interchange.
On Monday
and Tuesday (Nov. 23-24), a westbound lane will be closed at the westbound
on-and off-ramps. Hours for the lane closures are 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. each night.
By Wednesday (Nov. 25) at 5 a.m., the new, permanent off- and on-ramps will be
finished and open to traffic.
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 Vista Avenue Interchange to
reduce congestion and accommodate future I-84 lanes.
On Tuesday (Nov. 24), flaggers will direct traffic onto the
first part of the new bridge starting at 10 p.m. One lane will be open in each
direction on Vista Avenue. Crews are paving, striping and placing guardrail on
the new bridge. During daytime hours on Tuesday, flaggers will direct traffic
at the interchange while paving trucks enter and exit the work zone.
Traffic will be switched to the new bridge by 5 a.m.
Wednesday (Nov. 25).
Demolition of the old bridge is scheduled for Nov. 30-Dec.
5.
The speed limit on I-84 is 55 mph. Watch for trucks entering
and exiting the construction zone.
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.
BOISE - Interstate
84, Cole Road to Broadway Avenue widening
ITD is rebuilding and widening east- and westbound I-84 between the Cole and Broadway interchanges in Boise. When complete, the interstate will have four lanes in each direction.
The speed limit is 55 mph in the project area on I-84.
This project is expected to be complete in summer 2011.
WEST TREASURE VALLEY - Interstate 84,
Garrity to Meridian widening
ITD has added a third east- and westbound lane to I-84
between Nampa and Meridian.
Between Black Cat and Ten Mile roads, the third lane will
remain closed until spring 2010 during work on the Ten Mile Interchange.
The westbound shoulder will be closed until mid-November
while crews finish work in the median.
The I-84
speed limit is 55 mph during construction.
MERIDIAN - Interstate 84, Ten Mile
Interchange construction
Work continues on a project to replace the current Ten Mile
Overpass with an interchange with on- and off-ramps. This project includes
widening Ten Mile Road and constructing two undercrossings for local roads
north and south of I-84.
Daily pile driving begins the week of Nov. 20. Pile driving
hours are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Work will be done at the site of the future Ten Mile
Interchange. It is the final location for pile driving.
The Ten Mile Overpass will be demolished on the night of
Dec. 11. During the demolition, I-84 will be closed between the Meridian and
Garrity interchanges, and a detour route will be posted to guide motorists
through the area.
Ten Mile Road will be closed between Franklin and Overland
roads starting Dec. 11. It will remain closed until summer 2011. Watch for
detour signs posted in the area.
The speed limit has been reduced to 35 mph on Ten Mile Road
between Franklin and Overland roads. Motorists should watch for trucks
traveling in the area.
Construction is expected to be complete in summer 2011.
NAMPA
- Interstate 84, Garrity Bridge/11th Ave. to Garrity
ITD will replace two bridges in the Garrity Interchange with a single, wider bridge to support additional lanes on the interstate. The project will construct a third east- and westbound lane on I-84 through the Garrity Interchange.
A pre-construction conference is expected in early December, but no traffic impacts expected until the new year.
Est. Start: January 2010
Est. Completion: Winter 2010
Following is an update on non-GARVEE state highway construction projects in southwest Idaho.
CANYON
COUNTY
CALDWELL - Indian Creek Bridges replacement
Work to improve the
structural integrity of bridges over Indian Creek at 21st Avenue, and at 11th
Avenue and Arthur Street is in the final stages and should be complete by
late November/early December, weather permitting.
Crews finished paving and painting
lane stripes on the new bridge structure at 21st Avenue and are
installing hand rails on each side of the bridge to increase pedestrian safety.
Traffic is restricted to one lane in each direction. All four lanes are
expected to be open to motorists within the next couple of weeks.
The bridge at 21st was
widened to four lanes to better serve the well-traveled route between
Interstate 84 and The College of Idaho.
Crews poured the new bridge
deck for the 11th Avenue and Arthur structure last week and must wait 10 days
for it to cure. While the deck cures, crews are working on curb and
gutter. Vehicles
continue to be detoured around the intersection. Pedestrian access to local
business remains open and signs are in place to direct customers.
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.
WASHINGTON COUNTY
MIDVALE HILL - rest area improvement
project
The new rest area on U.S. 95 at Midvale Hill is expected to open Wednesday (Nov. 25), just in time for Thanksgiving holiday travelers.
This project has rebuilt the existing rest area - built in 1987 - and caretaker
facilities, created additional truck parking, and includes other repairs. The
rest room building was completely reconstructed.
Perimeter fencing, some electrical and mechanical system installation and some
roofing remains. A security system is being installed.
The rest area will be closed during this project, and signs are posted in
Cambridge and Weiser announcing the closure. No temporary facilities are
available.
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.
The contractor is working on a cold-weather concrete plan and setting the deck-finishing machine. The deck pour is expected this next week (Nov. 16-20).
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.
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 mid-February 2010.
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.