4/8/2010
Orchard Interchange nears completion - new lanes to open this weekend
BOISE - After a year of reconstruction, this weekend the Idaho Transportation Department will finish opening the remaining lanes for the Orchard Interchange - the final three lanes on the east side of the bridge.
On Friday (April 9) at
8:30 a.m., crews will begin switching traffic into its final configuration. The
new bridge is eight lanes across, instead of five for the old bridge.
Crews will flag all intersections on the bridge all day Friday as traffic is
switched and crews paint the final stripes.
Wright Street
will also open Friday morning. It has been widened and re-aligned to
improve traffic flow south of I-84.
Motorists can
expect slight delays during the transition on Friday.
Minor
construction activities will continue on the project throughout April. The speed limit is 25
mph on Orchard Street.
The Idaho
Transportation Department began reconstructing the interchange in April 2009.
ITD added turn lanes, sidewalks and bicycle lanes, expanded the on- and
off-ramps and extended a soundwall along I-84.
Roadways around
the interchange were also realigned and improved.
McAlvain Group
of Companies is the contractor for this $15.1 million project. Construction has been funded with GARVEE (Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicle) bonds.