6/25/2010
Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov
Make your commute quicker! Additional I-84 lanes between Ten Mile and Black Cat open this weekend
Weather permitting, a third westbound lane is scheduled to open between Ten Mile and Black Cat on Saturday morning (June 26). A third eastbound lane is scheduled to open by Monday morning's commute (June 28).
In the case of inclement weather or equipment issues, the openings would be pushed back to Sunday and Tuesday mornings, occuring in the same sequence
I-84 will be restricted to one lane near the bridge on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights while crews re-stripe the area for three lanes. Restrictions will begin each night by 10 p.m. and end by 7 a.m. over the weekend, and by 5 a.m. on Monday morning.
The new lanes were part of a project to widen I-84 to three lanes in both directions between the Garrity and Meridian interchanges. The one-mile segment near Ten Mile remained closed after ITD completed the project last October.
"Keeping that section closed gave the Ten Mile Interchange contractor enough room to safely construct the elaborate falsework system that supports the bridge during construction," said Jeff Morf, project manager. "While we will need to close this section again for Ten Mile construction, it is important to reduce congestion for motorists until then."
Morf said the area would be restricted for two weeks in early 2011 when the Ten Mile Interchange falsework is removed. Another lane closure will last a few months while the contractor paves the median under the bridge.
The improvements to I-84 are funded by the GARVEE Transportation Program, which will reduce congestion on this heavily traveled corridor.
The Ten Mile Interchange is expected to be completed in summer 2011.