Our Mission. Your Mobility.





7/9/2010

Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov

Southwest Idaho highway construction report for July 9-16

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. The new SPUI signal was installed overnight Tuesday (July 6), but it wont be operational immediately. It will take several weeks for crews to wire and test the 125-foot, 13,000-lb. signal.

 

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 continue to have intermittent lane closures overnight (10 p.m. to 5 a.m. on week nights, and 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. on weekends) through July 31.

 

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 includes an extension of Tasa Road to connect with Overland Road. The new extension was paved last week.

           

I-84 will be restricted on Monday and Tuesday nights (July 12 and 13) while overhead signs are installed.

- One lane of westbound I-84 will be closed from 10 p.m. Monday to 5 a.m. Tuesday between the Meridian Interchange and Black Cat Road.

- One lane of eastbound I-84 will be closed from 10 p.m. Tuesday to 5 a.m. Wednesday between Ten Mile Road and Black Cat Road.

 

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 - Franklin to 11th interstate widening

The final project in the widening of I-84 to three lanes from Nampa's Franklin Road to Garrity Boulevard is now under way. Bridge projects at Garrity and at 11th are already under way to accommodate the additional lanes.

 

The project will improve I-84 between the Franklin and Garrity interchanges by widening the interstate to three lanes in each direction and adding an auxiliary lane for eastbound traffic. The auxiliary lane will allow motorists to enter I-84 at Franklin, remain in the lane furthest right, and exit at Garrity - never having to merge with interstate traffic.

 

The project includes also the replacement of the Union Pacific Railroad and Phyllis Canal bridges.

 

Construction is expected to be complete by late spring or early summer 2012. The widening project is one of several interstate improvement projects occurring in an 18-mile stretch of I-84, funded by the GARVEE Transportation Program. The program uses proceeds from Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicle (GARVEE) bonds to accelerate highway improvements throughout Idaho.

 

Concrete Placing Company, of Boise, is the contractor on this $22.2 million project.

 

NAMPA 11th Avenue Bridge

Work is progressing on the 11th Avenue bridge over I-84 in Nampa.

 

The 11th Avenue bridge closed in mid-May and will remain closed until late summer.

 

Reconstruction of the bridge is required to accommodate future lanes on I-84.

 

Construction on the widening is scheduled to be complete by early summer 2012.


McAlvain Civil Constructors the contractor on the $4.1 million 11th Avenue Bridge project.

 

The bridge reconstruction and I-84 widening projects are among several interstate improvements occurring in an 18-mile stretch of I-84, funded by the GARVEE Transportation Program. The program uses proceeds from Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicle bonds.

 

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.

 

Motorists traveling westbound on I-84 should expect a few changes at the Garrity Interchange starting Monday morning (July 12).

 

1. I-84 westbound traffic will be shifted to the south onto the newly constructed median section of the freeway between the Robinson Road Overpass and the Garrity Interchange. The shift will occur overnight starting at 10 p.m. Sunday night, and be completed by 5 a.m. Monday morning, prior to the morning commute.

 

After motorists are past the Garrity construction area, they will shift back to the north out of the middle.

 

2. Westbound motorists wanting to exit at Garrity will need to stay to the right and enter the exit lane near the Robinson Road Overpass. This is nearly a mile earlier than usual.

 

This configuration on I-84 will last several months, allowing crews to remove and replace the existing westbound bridge. Once a new westbound bridge is built, westbound traffic will be moved back onto the new construction allowing the eastbound bridge to be removed and replaced.

 

3. Garrity Boulevard will be reduced to one lane in each direction under the Garrity Interchange overnight (10 p.m. to 5 a.m.) each night from Monday night to Thursday night (July 12-15) while crews prepare the bridge deck for removal. Two southbound and one northbound lane will be open by the morning commute and during the day.

 

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) is nearing completion.

 

Both the north- and southbound lanes on Eagle Road at the railroad crossing have been finished. Crews paved the permanent tie-in to the railroad crossing in the northbound lanes Monday night (July 5). The speed limit was raised from 35 mph limit during construction to 50 mph. Some occasional nighttime lane closures will be necessary in the coming weeks for installation of some permanent pavement markings and signs. In addition, some final work will be done closer to the freeway later in July.

 

Central Paving Co. Inc., of Boise, is the contractor on the $1.35 million project.

 

ADAMS COUNTY

S. OF COUNCIL - Indian Valley Road repaving

The resurfacing of about three miles of Indian Valley Road, south of Council in Adams County, is expected to be completed soon.

 

The 2.8-mile section from the end of pavement to the intersection with West Indian Valley Road is being resurfaced to improve the driving surface and extend the life of the road.

 

Crews finished paving this week (July 5-9). The overall project is expected to be substantially complete by today (Friday, July 9) with only minor clean-up items remaining.

 

Adams County is the local sponsor of the project.

 

The project is located about 10 miles south of Council off of U.S. 95.

 

Knife River Corp. Northwest, of Boise, is the contractor on the $349,000 project.

 

BOISE COUNTY

NORTH OF HORSESHOE BEND HILL SUMMIT - spot repair

Repairs to a slight depression on Idaho 55 on the north side of Horseshoe Bend Hill continue.

 

Crews will shore up an area about 400 feet long near the Horseshoe View Subdivision at milepost 60.4, which is about halfway down from the summit on the Horseshoe Bend side of the hill. The work is expected to be complete in August.

Crews returned to work July 6 on this project, after the holiday, closing the left-hand southbound lane to southbound traffic. In addition, both northbound lanes are closed and northbound traffic has been shifted to the southbound left lane.

  

This section of roadway has settled about 18 inches since it was paved in the early 1980s. Crews will grind the pavement off, add about 1,500 cubic yards of road base to restore the road level, re-compact it and pave over the new surface.
 
The damaged area extends across both directions of travel.

 
The speed limit will be reduced to 45 mph through the work zone. The road will be reduced to one lane in each direction. ITD will separate the work zone from traffic with concrete guardrail.

This $22,000 project will be done by State of Idaho forces, with assistance from Western Construction for the rotomilling and Idaho Sand & Gravel on the paving. Knife River is contracted to supply the road base material for compaction.


CANYON COUNTY

CALDWELL - Franklin and 21st reconstruction

The reconstruction of the intersection of Franklin and 21st in Caldwell continues.

 

Roadwork and lane striping is complete. Crews finishing roadside sign installation (such as speed limit and stop signs) this week. Next, crews will begin assembling the traffic signal at the Franklin Road 21st Avenue intersection. The signal is expected to be operational during the week of July 12. Once operational, traffic will be allowed onto 21st Avenue, nearly two months ahead of schedule.

 

Commercial Way between Specht and Franklin 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 streets.  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.

 

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.  The project is expected to be finished in early October.

 

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.

 

The project is complete on the south side. The contractor is currently building subgrade on the north side.

 

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 are now paving. Guardrail installation and restriping is scheduled for later in July, after which the road can be opened. The project is running ahead of schedule.

 

The road will be closed during construction.

 

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.

 

OWYHEE COUNTY

DUCK VALLEY State Line to Sheep Creek Road resurfacing

 

A pavement resurfacing project on approximately 20 miles of Idaho 51, from the Nevada State Line to Sheep Creek Road in Owyhee County, has been delayed and is now expected to start Monday (July 12). The project is expected to take until late August to complete.

The work is about 70 miles south of Mountain Home and travels through the Duck Valley Indian Reservation.

 

On this two-lane road, the first 11.4-mile stretch will receive a thin overlay of asphalt (about 1.8 inches) and the entire 20-mile area will be seal coated. A half-inch scrub coat, to mitigate cracking, also will be applied to the first eight miles.

 

Traffic will be directed when necessary by flaggers and pilot cars.

Valley Paving & Asphalt Co., of Cottonwood, is the contractor on this $1.92 million project.

 

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 continues. 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 continue replacing damaged concrete slabs, grinding concrete and installing new guardrail end terminals  on eastbound I-84. In late July, crews should be finished with slab repair on the eastbound side and begin working in the westbound lanes.

 

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.

 

FRUITLAND, PAYETTE - pavement resurfacing

Work is under way on several pavement rehabilitation projects encompassing about six miles of U.S. 95 from north Fruitland to north Payette as well as about one-half mile of U.S. 30 between the Snake River and Fruitland. In addition to resurfacing, pavement cracks also will be filled throughout the project area.


Standard work hours will be 7 a.m. to dusk Monday through Thursday, and to noon on Friday. No weekend work is expected. There may be some overnight (10 p.m. to 5 a.m.) work when the contractor is working on the signalized intersections at U.S. 95 and U.S. 30 (Gayway Junction) and the U.S. 95/95 Spur intersection south of Payette. The traffic signals at those intersections will be upgraded to video detection-based operating systems.

Crews are continuing to pave and mill U.S. 95 in Fruitland and into Payette. Milling through Payette will require one lane closure (in the three-lane section). Two-way traffic will be allowed to continue through the work zone. Paving in Payette is not expected to start until next week (July 12-16).  

 

Crews are halfway finished doing work at Gayway Junction, and will finish the second half overnight Monday (July 12). Work will progress to the intersection in south Payette overnight Tuesday.

 

Knife River, of Boise, is the contractor on this $2.1 million project.

 

FRUITLAND - S. Pennsylvania Avenue resurfacing

A project to resurface South Pennsylvania Avenue in Fruitland is wrapping up.

 

The project has entailed a mill and overlay (about two inches of the existing surface will be removed, and replaced with two inches of new pavement) between U.S. 95 and SW 4th Street.

 

Crews completed milling and paving the week before the holiday. They installed signs and pavement markings this week and will continue it next week (July 12-16), at which time the project should be substantially complete.

 
South Pennsylvania Avenue is an integral part of the transportation system for Fruitland. It is the only roadway access to the Fruitland elementary and middle schools and also provides approach to the Fruitland intermediate and high schools. The avenue also serves as a northbound gateway into Fruitland.

The city of Fruitland is the local sponsor of this project, and also is participating financially.

 

Irvco Asphalt & Gravel Inc., of Fruitland, is the contractor on this $298,000 project.

 

PAYETTE U.S. 95, Payette River Bridge replacement

The project to improve the U.S. 95 bridge over the Payette River south of Payette has been pushed back and is now likely to start soon. Once construction has started, it is expected to take about two years to complete.

 

Road resurfacing work near Payette, which is now under way in a separate project, is finishing. This resurfacing work must be completed before work on the Payette River Bridge can begin.

 

There are job trailers on site, weekly meetings are being with the contractor, and crews are awaiting the right river level to begin cofferdam placement.
 

ITD will replace the existing northbound truss bridge (built in 1927) located on U.S. 95 between Fruitland and Payette. The new bridge will be two feet higher off the water. It will have no overhead bracing or struts as the current one does and will be 84 feet in width, eliminating current safety concerns regarding both width and height restrictions.

 

The new bridge will be constructed next to, and will attach to, the existing southbound bridge. The project includes also minor roadway realignment to tie into the new bridge location.

U.S. 95 is the main route connecting northern and southern Idaho. About 18,000 vehicles use this portion of the highway daily. By 2026, the volume is expected to be more than 25,000.

Traffic will utilize the southbound bridge while the new bridge is constructed. Traffic will then be switched to the new bridge while modifications to the southbound bridge are made and it is connected to the new bridge.

JC Constructors Inc., of Meridian, is the contractor for this $6.17 million project.

 

WASHINGTON COUNTY

WEISER - Snake River Bridge replacement

The project to replace the Snake River Bridge on the U.S. 95 Spur in Weiser 

is nearing completion.

 

The roadway is clear of all traffic-control drums. Last week there was no construction activity, but next week (July 12-16), crews should begin final work on the bridge and the fencing should be installed. Final clean-up items include seeding/planting (planting may be in the spring), fencing, returning new mailboxes to their original locations, and the replacement of a couple of signs. 

 

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.


Sletten Construction of Boise is the contractor on this $10 million project. The project is expected to be completed by mid-July.

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.

 
+