6/16/2010
Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov
EAGLE ROAD: Railroad crossing to be replaced overnight Friday and Saturday
BOISE - As a resurfacing
project on Eagle Road draws to a close, the Idaho Transportation Department advises
that work to replace the railroad crossing on Idaho 55 (Eagle Road) between the
Franklin Road and Pine Street intersections will take place overnight (8 p.m. to
9 a.m.) Friday and Saturday (June 18-19).
Work hours are being extended in
the mornings to allow crews to finish the work in one weekend. Motorists
are encouraged to use an alternate route during this overnight work.
The speed limit will be 35 mph and one lane of traffic will be open through the work zone. It will increase to 50 mph and all lanes will be open during non-working hours.
The electronic message signs at
southbound Eagle Road and eastbound on I-84 at Locust Grove will advise
motorists of the closure.
The work is being done Friday and Saturday overnight to fit Boise Valley
Railroad's schedule, and because traffic counts are significantly lighter
on Saturday and Sunday mornings on Eagle Road. This work was originally
expected to take 3-4 nights.
The railroad will be replacing the decades-old crossing, which also includes removing
the old tracks and planking, excavating around and replacing the underlying
ties, placement of the new tracks, splice-welding the new tracks together,
setting the grade of the new tracks and installation of the pre-cast
steel-edged concrete planking to replace the old rubber planking. The old
rubber planking outside of the rails also has rutted over time. Crews need to replace the crossing or the ruts in the old planking will
eventually compromise the new pavement. Crews also will apply temporary
patching to the roadway leading into the tracks.
The contractor is planning
on returning to mill and repave the permanent tie-ins to the crossing the
following weekend (June 25-27).
Central Paving Co. Inc. of Boise is the contractor on the $1.35 million
project.