Idaho

Transportation Department

3/5/2010






Southwest Idaho highway construction report for March 5-12

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.

 

Between the Orchard and Vista interchanges, one lane will be closed in both directions at night (10 p.m. to 5 a.m. on week nights, and 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. on weekends).

 

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.

 

Between the Orchard and Broadway interchanges, one lane will be closed in both directions at night (10 p.m. to 5 a.m. on week nights, and 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. on weekends).

 

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.

The project will include widening I-84 between Black Cat and Ten Mile roads.

 

I-84 will be restricted at night next week (March 9-12) between Ten Mile and Black Cat roads.

• Eastbound I-84 will be reduced to one lane on Tuesday and Thursday nights (March 9 and 11).

• Westbound I-84 will be reduced to one lane on Wednesday and Friday nights (March 10 and 12).

The restrictions will occur between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. (and until 7 a.m. on Saturday morning). Restrictions will alternate between the inside and outside lanes.

 

During the restrictions, crews will re-stripe, move guardrail and shift traffic toward the shoulder. The work will be rescheduled in the case of rain.

 

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 additional rock removal work on Sunday morning (March 7) between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m.  This work occurred the last three Sundays as well, and will likely continue for the next few Sunday mornings. The closure time may be rescheduled or delayed in the event of fog. In addition, rain or the accumulation of moisture leading up to the work will postpone it, since too much mud in the median may result in equipment getting stuck.

 

Traffic will be stopped for about 15 minutes in both directions on I-84 and Garrity Boulevard during this work, about one-quarter mile back from the demolition 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. All three lanes are located inside the bridge piers beneath the Garrity Interchange. The speed limit will remain 35 mph on Garrity Boulevard. However, it will be evaluated and may change to 25 mph in the future.

 

Interstate 84, Franklin Interchange to Robinson Road 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. The temporary widening to the outside will allow for traffic to be pushed out and facilitate construction in the median. 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 remains closed while crews reconstruct and realign the roadway to match up with the new five-lane roadway constructed last summer. Motorists are detoured to 21st and Chicago. The detour will be in place through this summer, when work at the intersection concludes. Businesses on Franklin can be accessed via Chicago.

 

Commercial Way between Specht Avenue and Franklin is also closed to through traffic while crews work to realign the roadway 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 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 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 scheduled for completion in September.

 

Central Paving Co. of Boise is the contractor on this $1.66 million project. Central Paving also was the contractor on the first phase of the project 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.

 

Crews placed the deck Wednesday (March 3). The contractor also is stockpiling road material to start road work shortly after the deck is poured.
 
The work over and under the canal must be completed by March 15, 2010.

 

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.

Work is expected to be completely finished - except grass re-seeding in the 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 - U.S. 95 overpass repair

A project in Washington County to repair Weiser's U.S. 95 Interchange Overpass to extend the life of the structure is now under way.

 

Crews set up traffic control and brought in equipment Monday (March 1). It will be about a two-month project.

 

The two bridges, on the U.S. 95 Spur, were built in the late 1950s. Bridge deck joints will be replaced, some concrete repaired, as well as repair of metal bridge railings on both structures.

 

One lane of the two-lane structures will be maintained for traffic.

 

Record Steel & Concrete Inc. of Meridian is the contractor for the $241,000 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 finishing work under the bridge, and is planning for paving work with warmer temperatures. 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.