1/15/2010
Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov
Southwest Idaho highway construction report for Jan. 15-22
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.
On
Tuesday (Jan. 19), a northbound lane will be closed on the Orchard Street
bridge over I-84 from 8 a.m. to noon. Crews will be pouring concrete on the bridge.
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 Sunday
and Monday nights (Jan. 17 and 18), one lane will be closed in each direction
of I-84 near the Vista Interchange. Crews are doing bridge and guardrail work
and striping pavement. Motorists should expect lane closures each night from 10
p.m. until 5 a.m. the following morning.
This work
is weather dependent.
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 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.
Ten Mile
Road is closed between Franklin and Overland roads until summer 2011.
Motorists
should watch for trucks traveling in the area.
Construction is
expected to be complete in summer 2011.
NAMPA - Interstate 84, Garrity Interchange
Bridge reconstruction
Construction on the
I-84 Garrity Interchange improvement project is under way.
Crews began placing
traffic barrels for the project and installing advanced warning signs Jan. 10.
Trucks and heavy equipment began working in the area Jan. 11.
Crew will do an I-84
westbound lane closure on the night of Tuesday (Jan. 19) to place barrier to
the existing bridge guardrail for work in the median.
At least one lane in
each direction will be open on Garrity during daytime hours. Drivers can expect
two lanes open in one direction and one lane open in the opposite direction
during some of the construction. Many times, two lanes will be open in each
direction. The speed limit will be lowered to 35 mph on Garrity and 55 mph on
I-84 through the construction zones.
The project will
remove two bridges on I-84 at the Garrity Interchange and replace them with a
single bridge that will accommodate three lanes in each direction on the
interstate. Work also includes reconstructing the interstate about a mile east
of the interchange to tie into the widening of I-84 between the Garrity and
Meridian interchanges, and removing the bridge piers in the roadway at Garrity
Boulevard.
This project is part of ITD's plans to improve I-84 between the Franklin and
Garrity interchanges in Nampa. The completed improvements will include three
lanes in each direction from the Franklin to Garrity interchanges, and four
lanes in each direction from the Garrity to Meridian interchanges.
The project will be
constructed in three stages:
Stage 1 - Build the
median section of the bridge between the existing bridges. Traffic will remain
on existing bridges, with two lanes open in each direction.
Stage 2 - Remove existing westbound bridge and build new westbound portion of
bridge. Westbound traffic will be moved onto the new median section. Two lanes
will remain open in each direction.
Stage 3 - Remove existing eastbound bridge and build new eastbound portion of
bridge. Westbound traffic will be shifted onto the new westbound portion of the
bridge, and eastbound traffic onto the median section.
Completion - By summer 2011, three lanes will be open in each direction over
the bridge, eventually connecting with a fourth lane in each direction east of
the interchange.
Concrete Placing Co. Inc. of Boise is the contractor of the $15 million
project.
Following
is an update on non-GARVEE state highway construction projects in southwest
Idaho.
CANYON COUNTY
CALDWELL - Franklin Rd.
& 21st Ave. reconstruction resumes
Work resumed Jan. 14 at
the intersection of Franklin Road and 21st Avenue in Caldwell. The first part
of this project took place last summer - about a quarter-mile section of 21st
Avenue was rebuilt. The three-lane 21st Avenue was
reconstructed into a five-lane urban roadway.
Initially, crews will
be working on a structure away from the roadway and performing some waterline
work. Only minimal traffic impacts are expected.
Crews will put in a new traffic signal at the intersection, and realign
Franklin Road and Commercial Way (to tie into Specht Road). Franklin will be
realigned slightly to the northeast, while Commercial Way will be realigned
slightly to the southwest. The 21st Avenue
intersection with Franklin Road is about one-quarter mile west of the newly
reconstructed Franklin Road Interchange (Exit 29) in Caldwell.
In addition to intersection reconstruction, the project also includes including
excavation, asphalt pavement, curb & gutter, storm sewer, sidewalk,
illumination, and installation of a stiff-legged structure over the Notus
Canal.
Central Paving Co, of Boise, is the contractor on this $1.66 million project.
Central Paving also was the contractor on the work this past summer.
GEM COUNTY
EMMETT - Bishop Road Bridge project for
Farmers Co-op Canal
A project to build a
detour over the Farmers Co-op Canal on the east side of the existing bridge off
Idaho 52 is under way. A new bridge will then be constructed, with a new
intersection at Bishop Road and Bishop and Bill Burns Road next to the canal.
The project is south of the intersection of Dewey and Bishop roads.
The traffic control during this project may include flaggers and intermittent
minor delays, but at least one lane of traffic will be maintained at all times
for drivers to travel through the work zone.
Once work has begun, the contractor must be done with work over the canal by
March 15, 2010, and is expected to be completely finished - except grass
re-seeding that fall - by early May.
Idaho Sand & Gravel of Nampa is the contractor on the $622,000 project. Gem
County is the local sponsor, also participating financially in the project.
WASHINGTON COUNTY
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.
Another
concrete pour remains, as well as asphalt paving work that requires warmer
temperatures, so the new bridge will not be open to two-way traffic until
spring. The contractor is continuing to work on the parapet/barrier.
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 will extend into spring
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.