2/12/2010
Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov
Southwest Idaho highway construction report for Feb. 12-19
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 on the $15.1 million project 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 Wright Street, the center turn lane will be closed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday (Feb. 15) through Wednesday (Feb. 17). The closure will begin at Vista Avenue and end east of Orchard Street. Crews will be moving temporary construction fence.
On Vista Avenue, one southbound lane will be closed every night between 10 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. until Monday, Feb. 22. The closures began last week. Crews are removing curb, gutter and sidewalk before widening the road. The speed limit on I-84 is 55 mph. Watch for trucks entering and exiting the construction zone.
Construction on the $17.8 million project is expected to be complete in late summer 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.
Nightly lane restrictions on I-84 between the Orchard and Broadway interchanges will continue through February:
- The outside east- or westbound lane will be closed on most nights.
- The inside east- or westbound lane may be closed occasionally.
- One east- and westbound lane will remain open at all times.
Lane restrictions are nightly from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. the following morning on weeknights and until 7 a.m. on weekends.
The speed limit is 45 mph in the work zone while lane restrictions are in place, and 55 mph during the day.
This $35.9 million project is expected to be complete in summer 2011.
MERIDIAN - Interstate 84, Ten Mile Interchange construction
Work continues on a project to replace the old 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.
One lane of Interstate 84 will be closed Friday and Saturday nights (Feb. 12-13) while crews move guardrail near the future interchange.
East- and westbound I-84 will be restricted to one lane between 10 p.m. Friday and 7 a.m. Saturday.
Eastbound I-84 will be restricted to one lane between 10 p.m. Saturday and 7 a.m. Sunday.
The schedule is
weather-dependent.
At the intersection of
Ten Mile and Franklin roads, minor delays are expected between 8 a.m. and 5
p.m. on Wednesday (Feb. 17) while girders are delivered to the work zone.
Flaggers may stop traffic for 2-3 minutes.
Ten Mile Road is closed
between Franklin and Overland roads during construction.
The $33.8 million project 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 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.
Crews will do some rock removal work on Sunday morning (Feb. 14) between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. Traffic will be stopped for about 15 minutes in both directions on I-84 and Garrity Boulevard during this work.
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.
Current Conditions
Garrity Boulevard
Garrity Boulevard is restricted to one lane northbound and two lanes southbound
while crews work on the bridge abutment.
Occasionally a different lane configuration will be needed for overnight work. This stage is intended for limited durations and should only occur at night.
Interstate 84, Franklin IC to Robinson Rd Overpass
I-84 between Franklin and Robinson is reduced to one lane in each direction
overnight while crews widen along the shoulders. The overnight lane
restrictions will continue until work is completed. Closures are not expected
on Friday and Saturday nights. Both lanes are open for the morning commute and
during the day.
Following is an update on
non-GARVEE state highway construction projects in southwest Idaho.
CANYON COUNTY
CALDWELL - Franklin Rd. & 21st Ave. reconstruction
Franklin Road between 21st Avenue and Chicago Street in Caldwell is closed for reconstruction. Motorists are detoured to 21st and Chicago. Businesses on Franklin can be accessed via Chicago. The detour will be in place through this summer, when work at the intersection concludes.
Also, Commercial Way between Specht Avenue and Franklin is closed to through traffic.
Commercial Way will be realigned so that it joins the intersection of Franklin and 21st. Crews will install a new traffic signal at this location. The Franklin-21st Avenue intersection is about one-quarter mile west of the newly-reconstructed Franklin Road Interchange (Exit 29).
The roadway reconstruction project will improve sight distance and safety, and the road will align to match up with the new five-lane roadway on 21st Avenue. 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 contractor is working on tying rebar for the canal structure, and is placing pipe on Franklin.
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 2010.
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.
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 contractor
finished the bridge abutments and wing walls. The subcontractor dealing with
the concrete is preparing the abutments for setting the girders. The girders
are being delivered Friday Feb. 12) to be placed.
Conditions permitting, crews will start building falsework (the form the new deck is placed upon) for the bridge deck next week (Feb. 15-19).
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.
Asphalt
paving work requires warmer temperatures, so the new bridge will not be open to
two-way traffic until spring.
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 May 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.