Idaho

Transportation Department

7/30/2010

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

Southwest Idaho highway construction report for July 30-Aug. 6

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*

The new Single Point Urban Interchange traffic light was activated at the Vista Interchange last week. ITD is finishing the last stage of reconstruction on the interchange. The project will reduce congestion and accommodate more lanes on I-84.

 

Airport Way will be reduced to one lane in both directions until early August.

 

The new left-turn lanes on Vista Avenue will remain closed while ITD finishes paving and constructing center islands. All lanes are expected to be open in late August.

 

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 or early fall 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.

 

ITD will open a fourth lane on westbound I-84 just west of the Orchard Interchange on Wednesday morning (Aug. 4) at 5 a.m.

 

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) Aug. 2 to Aug. 17.

 

Crews will pave new lanes 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 several improvements to Ten Mile 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

Work is under way to widen Interstate 84 to three lanes from Nampa's Franklin Boulevard to Garrity Boulevard.
 
Nighttime lane closures are expected through August.

 
The project also includes replacement of the Union Pacific Railroad and Phyllis Canal bridges. Bridge projects at Garrity and 11th are already under way to accommodate the additional lanes on I-84.
 
When these improvements are complete, I-84 between the Franklin and Garrity interchanges will be widened to three lanes in each direction, with an additional 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.

Construction is expected to be complete by early summer 2012.

 

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 bridge deck pours are now complete.

 

The 11th Avenue Bridge closed to all traffic in May and will remain closed until late summer. Reconstruction of the bridge is required to allow the addition of one lane in each direction on I-84 between Franklin Boulevard and Garrity Boulevard. That project began this week and is scheduled to be complete by early summer 2012.

 

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.

 

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

 

I-84 westbound traffic will shift to the south and be reduced to two lanes between the Robinson Road Overpass and the Garrity Interchange starting Saturday night (July 31). The ramp relocation will begin at 10 p.m., and be completed by 5 a.m. Sunday morning (Aug. 1). Motorists wanting to exit at Garrity will enter a newly constructed temporary off-ramp three-quarters of a mile closer to the interchange than the current exit ramp.

 

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

Step 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.

Step 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 Dec./Jan.

Step 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.

 

Crews have completed permanent pavement markings. 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/August.

 

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

 

BOISE - Broadway Avenue resurfacing

A resurfacing project on Broadway Avenue (U.S. 20) from the Ridenbaugh Canal to the south side of the I-84 junction is under way The project is expected to finish in late August.

Work has begun and the contractor has milled the roadway surface (ground off the top layer) on Broadway Avenue from the New York Canal to Federal Way (including the Federal Way ramps).

 

They are now in the process of paving this same area.

 

The contractor is going to reconstruct the approaches to the I-84 bridge and intersections of the I-84 ramps starting on Aug. 6 at 10 p.m. and will work through the weekend until Monday at 5 a.m. Work in this area will require that Broadway be closed to one lane in each direction and one of the I-84 ramps to be closed at a time while work is done in the intersections.

 

Ramp traffic will be detoured to Gowen and Vista interchanges during the closures.

 

Work on the approaches and intersections will take place over three consecutive weekends, with Broadway and the ramps completely open during weekday daytime hours. The ramps will only be closed on weekends.

 

During this project, the top three inches of pavement will be milled off the surface and replaced. Sections of the roadway are deteriorated, cracked and rutted. The project will extend the life of the roadway and result in a smoother ride.

Work will then proceed to the interchange bridge, tentatively starting in late July and progressing for three consecutive weekends. This work will follow a 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday weekend schedule. Only one ramp at a time will be closed during this stage of the project, but ramp closures will last for the duration of each weekend during this construction phase.

All efforts will be made to maintain cross street and business access; however, temporary closures can be expected as the paving process moves through the project. The Federal Way ramps will not be closed during the day, but intermittent closures of the Federal Way ramps will be in place on select evenings. Detours will be established and advanced warning given prior to the intermittent closures.

Crews also will be updating the traffic signals at the Federal Way and I-84 ramps to include a video-detection system.

Broadway was resurfaced from Rossi Street to the Ridenbaugh Canal in fall 2008, including pedestrian ramp reconstruction. Broadway was resurfaced from the Boise River Bridge to Rossi Street in summer 2003.

Central Paving Co., of Boise, is the contractor on this $556,000 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.

The northbound lanes have been paved, and crews are improving the shoulders and installing temporary lines. Starting next week (Aug. 2-6), crews will prepare to start work on the next section just north, at milepost 60.6.

 

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.

 

Lowman to Banner Creek Summit seal coat now under way
A seal coat covering nearly 30 miles of Idaho 21 began July 27 from Lowman to Banner Creek Summit.
 
This is a two-step seal coat from milepost 70.7 to 91.6 and from 97.5 to 105.5. A future project will address the segment between the two.

No work will be performed on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The project is expected to be complete by the end of next week (Aug. 2-6).

During construction, motorists can expect slight delays as crews spray liquid asphalt on the highway and spread a layer of crushed rock over it.
 
Kloepfer Construction Inc., of Paul, is the contractor on this $1.36 million project.

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.

 

Work continues on the north side of Main Street. Curb and gutter have been installed. Work resumes on the patterned sidewalk and illumination planters.  

 

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.

 

A pair of pavement-preservation projects near Emmett are expected to begin soon:

Ola Highway, Kirkpatrick Road North
Extending into mid-August, crews will be working on a 3.7-mile pavement preservation of Ola Highway, a two-lane rural roadway that runs north and south starting at Kirkpatrick Road and proceeding north. This is a stimulus-funded overlay.

 

Paving could begin as soon as Tuesday (Aug. 3)

Gem County is the local sponsor of the Local Highway Technical Assistance Council project.

C&A Paving Company, of Boise, is the contractor on this $385,000 project.

 

Idaho 52, Emmett to Sweet-Ola Highway sealcoat
A 13-mile stretch of Idaho 52 from Emmett to the junction with the Sweet-Ola Highway will be seal coated starting Aug. 2. The project is expected to last six days.

 

The seal coat will work from east to west.

The seal coat, from milepost 31.8 to milepost 45, will protect the existing roadway against water damage, add traction to the surface and prolong the highways life.

During construction, motorists can expect slight delays as crews spray liquid asphalt on the highway and spread a layer of crushed rock over it.

Travel will be reduced to one lane in each direction, with flaggers directing traffic through the work zones. The speed limit in work areas will be reduced to 35 mph.

Kloepfer Inc., of Paul, is the contractor on this $994,000 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.

 

Paving, striping and guardrail for the new road are complete. The road is slated to re-open by Aug. 1. Delineation and signing still remain. 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, is now under way. The project is expected to take until late August to complete.

Mainline and approach paving have been completed. There will be a week-long curing period prior to the seal coat application. The seal coat is expected to start the week of Aug. 9. This operation should only take one week.
 
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, was applied to the first eight miles. Crews are waiting for the scrub coat to cure, and will resume paving operations on Monday.  All lanes are open to traffic, but the speed limit is still reduced to 45 mph.

  

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, begins west of the Black Canyon Interchange and extends for five miles, to east of the Sand Hollow Interchange.
 
Traffic has been switched over to the eastbound side and will remain there until mid- to late September. The contractor is working on the westbound side now. All work, with the exception of approach work to the concrete and some ramp approach work, is done on the eastbound side.

Crews continue replacing damaged concrete slabs, grinding concrete and installing new guardrail end terminals on eastbound I-84. By the end of this month, crews should complete 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.
 
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 completed paving through Payette this week (July 19-23). Approach paving (public and private) has been completed to the 7th Avenue North intersection in Payette. The remaining approaches will be paved next week (July 26-30). Speed limit reductions will remain in place until all work is completed.  

 

The contractor is expecting to have approximately five to six days of bump grinding, followed by restriping.  

 

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

 

Idaho 52, Idaho 72 Resurfacing

A resurfacing project is expected to begin in late July on about 14 miles of rural highway on Idaho 52, from Payette's east city limits to its junction with Idaho 72, and on Idaho 72, from the junction with U.S. 30 to the junction with Idaho 52. The project is expected to take about two months to complete, finishing in late September.

In addition to the thin overlay to be applied to the roadway surface, the project also includes guardrail upgrades.

 

Traffic control is expected to consist of a pilot car and flaggers when needed.

 

Crews continue paving. Idaho 52 should be resurfaced by the end of next week (Aug. 2-6).

Western Construction of Boise is the contractor on this nearly $2 million project.

 

FRUITLAND - S. Pennsylvania Avenue resurfacing

A project to resurface South Pennsylvania Avenue in Fruitland is nearing completion.

 

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 have been working on minor items such as repairing sod, adjusting and cleaning manholes and water valves, installing signs, and general clean-up this week (July 12-16). The project is anticipated to be finished this week with the exception of installing school crossing signs and school zone signs. 

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 is now under way. It is expected to take about two years to complete, finishing in fall 2012.

Crews 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 also includes 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.

 

Two-way traffic has been switched onto the southbound bridge and all traffic control is in place for the project from Fruitland to Payette. Crews are making preparations, including the demolition of minor existing structures. Setup of the cofferdam a temporary steel structure allowing water to be pumped out and replaced by air, creating a dry work environment - is scheduled to begin in early August, along with removal of the bridge deck from the truss bridge.  

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

 

VALLEY COUNTY

Idaho 55, Donnelly North City Limits to Deinhard Lane in McCall
An 11-mile pavement preservation/resurfacing project between Donnelly's north city limit and Deinhard Lane on the southern end of McCall is expected to begin Aug. 2, using the Cement Recycled Asphalt Base Stabilization (CRABS) resurfacing method. The existing surface will be removed, crushed and mixed with cement, then reapplied to the highway as a base for the new surface.
 
The project is expected to take about two months. During construction, one lane will be closed in the project area, with flaggers directing traffic.
 
The work from milepost 132 to 143 also involves some drainage work.
 
Idaho 55, Gold Dust Road Turn Bay, south of Cascade
Work is expected to begin Aug. 9 to construct a left-turn bay on Idaho 55 for Gold Dust Road, about 1.5 miles south of Cascade. The roadway will be widened in that location (milepost 112) to accommodate the turning lane.
 
The project is expected to take about a month. During construction, one lane will be closed in the project area, with flaggers directing traffic.
 
Knife River Corp., of Boise, is the contractor for both projects. The Gold Dust Road Turn Bay is a $177,000 project, and the Donnelly to Deinhard contract is $3.6 million.

 

WASHINGTON COUNTY

WEISER - Snake River Bridge replacement

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

is nearly finished.

 

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 the end of the month. Final clean-up items continue until then.

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.