5/21/2010
Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov
Southwest Idaho highway construction report for May 21-28
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, Vista Avenue Interchange Reconstruction*
Work is under way to
rebuild the Vista Avenue Interchange to reduce congestion and accommodate
future I-84 lanes.
Airport Way will be reduced to one lane
in each direction until late July.
Motorists are advised to remain
cautious while work continues at the Vista Interchange.
The speed limit on I-84 is 55 mph and
shoulders are restricted in the project area. The speed limit on Vista Avenue
is 25 mph. ITD advises motorists to be cautious of trucks and equipment.
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 Cole and Broadway
interchanges, one east- and westbound lane will be closed in both directions
overnight (10 p.m. to 5 a.m. on week nights, and 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. on weekends)
through May.
Crews will pour concrete in the median
during the closures.
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 construct a new interchange with on- and off-ramps at Ten Mile Road.
The project will include widening I-84 between Black Cat and Ten Mile roads.
Crews are continuing to work on the
storm sewer along Tasa Drive near the construction site.
Monday (May 24) from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.,
Tasa Drive will be reduced to one lane. Flaggers will direct traffic during the
restriction.
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
- 11th Avenue Overpass rebuild
The 11th Avenue bridge that spanned
I-84 in Nampa was taken down overnight last Friday (May 14). It will remain
down for about four months as it is replaced to make room for additional
freeway lanes underneath.
Beginning later
this spring, a project will add one lane in each direction on I-84 between
Franklin and Garrity.
Crews are focused on
getting the new bridge built, and don't expect any interstate closures or lane
restrictions again until they set girders for the new bridge - a task that is
still several months away.
This is the last of
six major bridge replacements required on I-84 through Canyon and Ada counties
to accommodate additional lanes. Black Cat, Robinson and Orchard came first and
are done. Vista, Ten Mile, Garrity and now 11th Avenue are under way.
McAlvain Construction is the contractor
on this $4.1 million project.
NAMPA
- Interstate 84, Garrity Interchange Bridge reconstruction
Construction on the I-84 Garrity
Interchange improvement project continues. The project will replace two bridges
on I-84 at the Garrity Interchange 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.
Two lanes southbound and one lane
northbound on Garrity under I-84 will be open by the morning commute and be
open during the day. Overnight restrictions are not expected to occur on Friday
or Saturday nights. Lane restrictions are expected to continue for the next few
weeks until the bridge work is completed.
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
eventually four lanes in each direction from the Garrity to Meridian
interchanges.
The project is being constructed in
three stages:
Currently
Under Way
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.
Tentatively starts December 2010
Stage 2 - Remove the existing westbound
bridge and build a new westbound portion of bridge. Westbound traffic will be
moved onto the new median section. Two lanes will remain open in each
direction.
Tentatively starts Spring 2011
Stage 3 - Remove the existing eastbound
bridge and build a 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 on the $15 million project.
Following is an update on non-GARVEE
state highway construction projects in southwest Idaho.
ADA
COUNTY
MERIDIAN
- Eagle Road resurfacing
The resurfacing
project on heavily traveled Eagle Road (Idaho 55), under way since May 2, may
be wrapping up in early June.
Crews started milling (grinding off the top few inches of pavement surface)
from Franklin to Fairview Wednesday (May 19) and if weather permits will
continue that activity next week (May 23-27). If weather permits, paving will start Tuesday night, (May 25)
at the Franklin end while the milling continues toward the Fairview end if
necessary.
Crews will not work over the Memorial Day holiday, but will continue paving and
striping of that same section June 1-3, and possibly June 6-7 if needed. The
rest of that week will be devoted to re-striping and installing ADA-compliant
pedestrian ramps.
Boise Valley Railroad also will be doing work to replace the decades-old
railroad crossing between Lanark and Commercial. The old rubber planking
outside of the rails has rutted over time, like the pavement. Crews need to
replace the crossing or the ruts in the old planking will eventually compromise
the new pavement. The rubber planking will be replaced with new precast
steel-edged concrete panels, which should take place over 3-4 nights.
Crews are working a Sunday through Thursday,
8 p.m to 6 a.m., overnight schedule to minimize inconvenience for drivers. Two
lanes each way, with turn bays, will be maintained at all other times. The
speed limit is reduced to 35 mph.
According to the Ada County Highway District (ACHD), the intersection of Eagle
and Fairview is the busiest intersection in Ada County and the state. Four
intersections on Eagle Road are in ACHD's top eight. This project encompasses
three of them. ITD statistics show that only the Flying Wye (134,500) is busier
than the 132,500 vehicles the Eagle Road Interchange sees every day.
ITD initiated the Eagle Road Arterial
Study in 2003. Local municipalities, ACHD, the Community Action Partnership of
Southwest Idaho, homeowners associations and ValleyRide were all involved in
the initial study. This project is largely a result of those initial meetings.
Central Paving Co. Inc. of Boise is the
contractor on the $1.35 million project.
CANYON
COUNTY
CALDWELL
- Franklin and 21st reconstruction
Traffic on Specht Road is shifted to
the west and one lane in each direction remains open to motorists. Drivers may
experience a bit of a bumpy ride because they will be traveling on a dirt
surface for approximately two to three weeks until permanent paving takes
place.
Bases for a new traffic signal at the
Franklin and 21st Avenue intersection are being set this week, and drainage
pipes have been installed below Specht Avenue.
Crews are finishing placement of the
first layer of granular road material on Commercial Way. Once work there is
complete, crews will move to Franklin Road, again placing the granular base,
which will be followed by a layer of road base prior to paving.
Commercial Way between Specht and
Franklin Road is closed to through traffic. Franklin is closed while the
roadway is reconstructed and realigned to match up with the new five-lane
roadway constructed last summer. Motorists are detoured to 21st and Chicago
Street. Businesses on Franklin can be accessed via Chicago.
The Franklin-21st intersection is about
one-quarter mile west of the newly reconstructed Franklin Interchange (Exit
29). The project will improve sight distance and safety on 21st and
includes new asphalt pavement, curb and gutter, sidewalk and lighting.
The first phase of this project, about a
quarter-mile section of 21st, 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
- Main Street resurfacing
Work is under way on a project to
resurface and improve a mile of Main Street in Emmett.
This project, from the intersection of Boise
Avenue to the intersection of Washington Street (Idaho 52), includes pavement
rehabilitation to remove excessive rutting and cracking, with pothole repair
and slope work included for proper drainage. Sidewalks also will be replaced,
maintaining the current 11-foot width, along with curb and gutter work.
Lighting and adjustments to the traffic
signal at the intersection of Main and Washington also will be included.
Traffic was recently switched to the
north side of the project, and will remain that way for 6-8 weeks. One-way
traffic is allowed through the project area, but no on-street parking is
allowed during construction.
WF Construction & Sales LLC of
Meridian is the contractor on this $475,000 project.
The city of Emmett is the local sponsor for this project.
ELMORE
COUNTY
SOUTHWEST
OF MOUNTAIN HOME - Road to C.J. Strike Reservoir paving
The Dam Cutoff Road carrying
recreational traffic to the C.J. Strike Reservoir area in Elmore County is
being paved in a project now under way.
Crews have clearance for minor blasting
and clearing. Paving is expected to begin in July.
The road will be closed during
construction, which is expected to finish
this fall.
This route is one way to get to C.J.
Strike, but possibly the least-common route. However, the improvements will
make it a more desirable route and will shorten the trip from Mountain Home to
the dam.
The Strike Dam Cutoff Road currently is
a two-lane unpaved rural route in rolling terrain. The project begins at the
junction of Idaho 67 and extends about one-quarter mile north of the C.J.
Strike Dam, from about milepost 100 to 107.
The paving is designed to provide a
safer route and save on annual maintenance costs.
Western Construction Inc. of Boise is
the contractor on the $1.86 million project.
This project is locally sponsored by
the Mountain Home Highway District.
PAYETTE
COUNTY
WEST
OF CALDWELL - I-84 resurfacing, Black Canyon to Sand Hollow
The pavement resurfacing and repair
project on I-84 west of Caldwell is under way. The project, funded through
stimulus savings, will treat the roadway surface beginning west of the Black
Canyon Interchange and extending for five miles, to east of the Sand Hollow
Interchange.
All traffic within the project area has
been traveling on the westbound side of the interstate for several weeks. Crews are working on
replacing damaged concrete slabs on eastbound I-84. Thus far, they have
replaced slabs from Black Canyon Interchange to approximately one mile to
the east.
During the majority of the work, only
one interstate lane will be open in both directions.
The speed limit is 45 mph over the
median crossovers, and 55 mph between them.
The project is expected to be complete this fall.
Several badly damaged concrete slabs in
that stretch will be removed and replaced. Repairs also will include resealing
pavement joints, repairing pavement cracks and chips, grinding portions off of
the existing pavement surface and completing guardrail safety improvements.
Work will start in the eastbound lanes (through July), then turn around and
come back westbound.
A highly competitive construction
environment led to significant savings on the eight original projects funded by
the federal stimulus program ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act).
This is one of nine smaller projects financed through those initial bid
savings.
Multiple Concrete Enterprises of Ogden,
Utah, is the contractor on the $6.9 million 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.
Crews placed
the curb for the traffic islands Wednesday, along with signing, after the
weather had postponed that activity Tuesday. Next week (May 24-28) crews plan
to replace topsoil and reseed in the project area.
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 one is 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 is expected to be completed by
the end of this month.
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.