8/27/2010
Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov
Southwest Idaho highway construction report for Aug. 27-Sept. 3
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*
ITD
is finishing the last stage of reconstruction on the Vista interchange. The
project will reduce congestion and accommodate more lanes on I-84.
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 within a few weeks.
* 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 the states 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.
Beginning
at the Broadway Interchange, all westbound traffic will be shifted to the eastbound
side of I-84 on Friday (Aug. 27).
Motorists
bound for the Vista or Orchard interchanges will use a new temporary ramp lane
at the Broadway Interchange.
Traffic
will be in this configuration for the next six months. The speed limit on the
temporary exit lane is 45 mph and for I-84 westbound through traffic it is 55
mph.
For
more information on the traffic shiftn go to itd.idaho.gov/projects/d3 and
click on I-84, Cole to Broadway Interchange Project.
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.
Motorists
can expect intermittent nighttime lane restrictions next week (Aug. 30-Sept. 3)
during paving work at the interchange ramps. One lane will be closed overnight between
10 p.m. and 5 a.m. All lanes will be open during the day.
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 Idaho Transportation Department will
shift eastbound Interstate 84 traffic between Franklin Boulevard and the
Garrity Boulevard Interchange in Nampa to newly constructed temporary lanes
between 10 p.m. Sunday (Aug. 29) and 5 a.m. Monday (Aug. 30).
The traffic shift is planned during weekend nighttime hours, so that the new
traffic configuration is in place by the morning commute.
This new traffic pattern
will allow crews to begin construction work in the median area.
Motorists are advised to
expect ongoing nighttime lane reductions on westbound I-84 between Franklin
Boulevard and 11th Avenue between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., Sunday evenings through
Friday mornings. This allows crews to safely work along the shoulder,
excavating, grading and performing pipe work.
The project includes also replacement of the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) and
Phyllis Canal bridges. A portion of the UPRR Bridge is slated for demolition in
early September, and a portion of the Phyllis Canal is slated for demolition in
October, after the irrigation season is complete. Bridge projects at Garrity
and 11th also are under way to accommodate the additional lanes on I-84.
Construction is expected to be complete by early summer 2012.
Concrete Placing Company of Boise is the
contractor on this $22.2 million project.
Once these interstate 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 farthest right, and exit
at Garrity without having to merge with interstate traffic.
NAMPA 11th Avenue Bridge
Work on the
Interstate 84, 11th Avenue Bridge in Nampa is nearing completion.
Paving on 11th Avenue
On Thursday, crews paved 11th Avenue approaching the south side of the
bridge. Paving on the north side is scheduled for today (Friday, Aug. 27).
For all paving, expect delays when paving and roller equipment are in the area.
Access to driveway or parking lot entryways will be restricted throughout the
day.
Visitors to nearby businesses should plan to take alternate routes if possible,
and be prepared for the delays.
On Monday (Aug. 30), crews will pave the bridge approaches. No traffic delays
are expected. Crews will paint lane stripes next week, and the bridge is
expected to be open to traffic before Labor Day weekend.
I-84 Overnight Lane Reductions
Early next week, crews will remove brackets and temporary structures used
to support the bridge during the construction process. Overnight lane
reductions on I-84 near the 11th Avenue Bridge will be necessary to allow crews
to safely remove these materials:
- Monday night
(Aug. 30) beginning at 10 p.m., lanes will be reduced for eastbound traffic.
This work will be complete by 5 a.m. Tuesday morning (Aug. 31).
- On Tuesday
night, also beginning at 10 p.m., lanes will be reduced for westbound traffic,
and reopen by 5 a.m. Wednesday morning (Sept. 1).
Motorists are advised to use extra caution in the work zone.
On the bridge, the placement of sidewalk, curb and gutter, and installation of
fence and light poles are complete. Some additional work, including minor
clean-up and final construction activities, are anticipated to be complete by
mid-September. Until then, minor traffic impacts may be expected.
McAlvain Civil Constructors is the contractor on the $4.1 million 11th Avenue
Bridge project.
The 11th Avenue Bridge closed to all traffic in May. Reconstruction of the
bridge was required to allow the addition of one lane in each direction on I-84
between Franklin Boulevard and Garrity Boulevard. That project is under way and
is scheduled to be complete by early summer 2012.
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.
Upcoming
traffic changes include:
- Placing bridge girders on the westbound side is scheduled for Sunday night,
(Sept. 12). This work will need an overnight (10 p.m. Sunday to 5 a.m. Monday)
closure of Garrity Boulevard between the ramps (under the bridge only). The
ramps will remain open.
- Reducing the
westbound shoulder to 5 ft. from Robinson Road Overpass to Garrity Interchange.
This should be in this configuration for a few weeks while crews place
concrete. Emergency stopping through this area will be hazardous to motorists.
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.
BOISE COUNTY
Seal coat from Overhead Message Board
to Horseshoe Bend
Seal coating is under way on Idaho 55
from the overhead message sign just north of the Shadow Valley Golf Course to
Horseshoe Bend's south city limits, a distance of about 13 miles. Work is expected
to finish by early September.
Traffic will be controlled by a pilot
car. Motorists can expect delays of up to 20 minutes.
Crews will work a 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
weekday schedule on both projects.
Speed limits will be reduced to 35 mph.
Traffic will be controlled by lane closures, lane restrictions or pilot cars.
No work is allowed from 6 a.m. on Friday morning through 7 a.m. on Monday
morning.
Seal coating begins by applying a layer of asphalt, then a cover coat of gravel
on the roadway surface. The highway is rolled and traffic allowed on to the
roadway to help pack the surface before "brooming" or sweeping to
remove excess gravel. A properly applied seal coat can add several years of
service to a heavily traveled roadway by sealing the surface and adding
roughness for winter traction.
The work is done during the day to allow extreme heat to help asphalt and rock
bond more quickly to the roadway surface, providing a higher-quality finished
product.
Kloepfer Inc., of Paul, is the
contractor on the $1.9 million projects.
CANYON
COUNTY
MIDDLETON- road improvement projects
Crews are
working on two road improvement projects in Middleton: Widening a .3-mile
section of North Middleton Road from Idaho 44 to Mill Slough (north of Main
Street) and realigning a .15-mile section of Cemetery Road, from Idaho 44 to
3rd Street.
Most work
will be performed during the weekdays, though crews may work on Saturdays as
needed. Work hours are limited to 8 a.m. 7 p.m.
During
construction the contractor will establish detours around the project areas,
using local roads. Work is planned to be complete in late December.
North
Middleton Road
North
Middleton Road is closed to through traffic and open to local residents only.
Non-resident motorists driving around road closure signs may be ticketed.
Idaho
Power crews will start relocating power poles beginning Monday (Aug. 30). Also,
Intermountain Gas crews are scheduled to lower gas main lines beginning Sept.
2, and will likely continue after Labor Day. No service interruptions are
anticipated with this utility work.
The
Middleton Road widening will include one lane in each direction, a center turn
lane, sidewalks, curb and gutter.
Cemetery
Road
A
.15-mile section Cemetery Road will be realigned, extending from Idaho 44 to
3rd Street.
This will
result in a section of Cemetery Road becoming a residential cul-de-sac off of
Idaho 44; the cul-de-sac will be renamed North Highland Court. Crews are
currently working on storm drains and manholes.
To accommodate the growing demand on this
section of roadway, crews will widen the road in that area to include wider
roadways, center turn lanes, curb, gutter and sidewalk.
Traffic on this stretch of road is
projected to grow from nearly 3,900 vehicles per day in the most recent count
(Oct. 2006) to 11,200 per day by 2035.
Mill Creek Elementary School is on
Middleton Road within the construction area, so the project also will promote
pedestrian and student safety with improved sidewalks and crosswalks.
Work is planned to be complete in late
December.
Nampa Paving & Asphalt Co. is the
contractor on this $884,000 combined project.
GEM COUNTY
EMMETT - Main Street resurfacing
Work
is finishing 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 are included.
A ribbon-cutting
ceremony is planned for next Friday (Aug. 27).
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.
OWYHEE COUNTY
HOMEDALE U.S. 95 paving from Idaho 55
to South City Limits
A 7.3-mile
pavement rehabilitation project on U.S. 95 from the junction with Idaho 55 to
the South City Limits of Homedale is under way.
It is expected to be completed in late September.
The project will use the CRABS (Cement Recycled Asphalt Base
Stabilization) method of pavement rehabilitation. In addition, existing
guardrail will be upgraded, shoulder rumble strips installed for the length of
the project and an additional width (up to two feet) added to each side of the
roadway
A project by State maintenance forces this spring added to
the gravel shoulders in that area in preparation for this project.
This project also will be coupled with a thin-lift overlay
resurfacing (1.8 inches of new pavement) from the Marsing Port of Entry to the
junction with Idaho 55, about an 8.5-mile stretch.
Next week (Aug.
23-27), crews will continue pavement pulverization and start the CRABS process.
Paving may begin early next week.The width is restricted to 10 feet and will
the speed limit will be lowered to 35 mph. Flaggers and a pilot car will be
used throughout the 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.
Crews finished
the concrete slab replacement this week. The dowel bar retrofit - a method of reinforcing cracks in highway
pavement by inserting steel dowel bars in slots cut across the cracks - is still
ongoing, as is pavement grinding. Next week (Aug. 23-27) crews will repave the
asphalt on the interstate right at the approaches to the concrete section.
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 in
September. It is about a month ahead of schedule.
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.
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.
Crews continue to set up the cofferdam,
and the dewatering operation is in progress and should be complete by the last
week of August. Removal of the bridge deck from the truss bridge continues, and
as soon as the cofferdams are prepared, removal of the old truss bridge will
commence.
Removal of the bridge deck from the truss
bridge is in progress. The next step is the removal of the steel truss sections
of the 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 now under way,
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 to complete. 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 improvements.
Crews are
working a 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
schedule, with no weekend work and crews must be done and off the roadway by
noon on Fridays to accommodate weekend recreational traffic.
The replacement of
deteriorated culvert that crosses Idaho 55 continued this week. Temporary
patching of completed culvert crossings will continue on Fridays.
Assembly of the asphalt plant for the production and crushing operations of
rocks also was completed this week.
Milling operations - grinding off the top layer of pavement surface also
began this week, starting at Donnellys north city limits and proceeding north.
Both directions of Idaho 55 will be milled, one direction in the morning, the
other in the afternoon. Motorcycles should use extra caution in milled areas.
Edge-drain installation, between mileposts 135 and 136, may begin this week.
Milepost 135.3 is the end of the Lake Fork Bridge and Smilie Lane. Kimble Lane
and Fairbrothers Lane are also in that stretch. Edge drains are parallel to the
road, just off the edge. These are buried drains that collect ground and surface
water that filters down to them and take that away. The intent is to direct
water away from the roadway foundation so that it cant contributes to winter frost
heaves.
Paving on the
project is not expected until after Labor Day.
Culvert replacement will require traffic-control measures (such as a speed
limit reduction to 45 mph, flaggers and pilot cars if needed) while crews
trench across the highway.
Idaho
55, Gold Dust Road Turn Bay, south of Cascade
Work began Monday (Aug. 16) 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 Valley County 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. Top soil work and seeding remain.
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.
This past week
(Aug. 9-13), fencing was installed as was permanent signage. No construction is
planned for next week.
Sletten Construction, of Boise, is the contractor on this $10 million project.
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.