1/22/2010
Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov
Southwest Idaho highway construction report for Jan. 22-29
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.
During the week of Jan. 25, crews will
begin working on improvements to Wright Street. Work on Wright Street is
expected to be complete by late February.
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.
The outside lane will be closed in each direction of I-84
near the Vista Interchange from 10 p.m. tonight (Jan. 22) until 5 a.m. Saturday
(Jan. 23). Crews are working on the bridge that spans I-84.
One lane will be closed in each direction of I-84 while
crews work overnight on the bridge Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (Jan. 25-27).
Work begins at 10 p.m. each night and ends at 5 a.m. the following morning. All
lanes will re-open at 5 a.m. Thursday (Jan. 28).
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.
Motorists can expect nighttime lane
closures on I-84 between the Orchard and Vista interchanges early next week:
- The left lane of eastbound I-84 will be
closed Monday and Wednesday nights (Jan. 25 and 27) for striping and guardrail
work.
- The left lane of westbound I-84 will be
closed Tuesday night (Jan. 26) for guardrail work.
During this time, motorists should expect
slight traffic shifts on the Orchard eastbound on-ramp and eastbound I-84.
Crews are preparing the work zone for the next phase of the widening project.
The speed limit is 55 mph in the project
area on I-84.
This project is expected to be complete
in summer 2011.
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.
The Idaho
Transportation Department (ITD) advises motorist to expect the I-84 eastbound
passing lane (the lane closest to the median) to be closed overnight Sunday (Jan. 24) between the Franklin
and Garrity Interchanges while equipment is set up in the median.
The lane closure will take place between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m,
from Sunday night to Monday morning. Both lanes will be open by the morning
commute and during the day.
ITD also reminds motorists that Garrity Boulevard will be
reduced to one lane in each direction near the Garrity Interchange from Sunday
night through the next warranted
traffic shift.
Traffic will be moved to the inside lanes beneath the
Garrity Interchange bridges while crews use the outside lanes to install
guardrails and work on the bridge abutments. The speed limit has been lowered
to 35 on Garrity Boulevard and 55 mph on Interstate 84 (I-84) through the
construction zones.
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
A project to reconstruct the roadway
and install a new traffic signal is under way at the area of Franklin Road and
21stAvenue in Caldwell. This project will improve sight distance and safety,
and align the road to match up with the new five-lane roadway on 21st Avenue.
Two intersections are closed to through
traffic: at Franklin and Commercial Way, and at Commercial and Specht Avenue.
Also, traffic on Franklin Road is shifted slightly; signs there will help
direct motorists through the work zone.
Crews will install a new traffic signal
at the Franklin/21st intersection, and realign Franklin and Commercial to tie
into Specht. In addition to intersection work, the project also includes
excavation, new asphalt pavement, curb and gutter, storm sewer, sidewalk,
lighting, and installation of a 35-foot concrete bridge over the Notus Canal.
The Franklin/21st Avenue intersection
is about one-quarter mile west of the newly-reconstructed Franklin Road
Interchange (Exit 29).
The first phase of this project, about
a quarter-mile section of 21st Avenue, was rebuilt last summer. The three-lane
roadway was widened to five lanes.
Work on this phase is anticipated to be
complete in September.
Central Paving Co. of Boise is the
contractor on this $1.66 million project. Central Paving also was the
contractor on the work last summer. The City of Caldwell is the local sponsor
on this project.
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.
Currently the old
bridge has been removed, and the contractor is setting rebar and forms and
pouring concrete for the second bridge abutment and wing walls. Overall, the
project is progressing as scheduled.
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.