1/28/2010
Hazardous material shipments to close highways temporarily between Idaho Falls and Arco
RIGBY - Shipments of radioactive waste and radioactive research material from the Idaho National Laboratory will temporarily close highways between Idaho Falls and Arco on Friday (Jan. 29), weather permitting.
The closure had been scheduled for last week, but weather conditions postponed the event.
Crews will close the highways up to one hour between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. and again between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. Friday to facilitate the shipments.
Shipments will close U.S. 20 from one half mile east of the entrance to the Materials and Fuels Complex (MFC) west of Idaho Falls, U.S. 26 from one mile south of its junction with U.S. 20 south of the laboratory, and U.S. 20/26 from half a mile west of the U.S. 20/26 junction (INL puzzle).
Motorists should avoid these highways during the Friday closure hours.
Idaho Cleanup Project contractor CH2M‑WG Idaho, LLC will ship the radioactive waste and radioactive research material in specially designed containers between MFC and the Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Complex at the laboratory. The waste will be repackaged for shipment out of Idaho to the federal Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico.
Laboratory officials expect additional convoys of trucks transferring radioactive waste to roll later in the year.
For closure/construction information on state highways, visit the Idaho Traveler Services Web site at 511.idaho.gov, or dial 5-1-1 from phones within Idaho. Outside Idaho, dial toll-free (888) 432-7623. Reports are updated as conditions change.