10/8/2010
Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov
Southwest Idaho highway construction report for Oct. 8-15
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, 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.
The westbound on-ramp at the Broadway
Interchange will be closed for reconstruction Oct. 15-18. Motorists will be
detoured to the Gowen Interchange from 8 p.m. Friday (Oct. 15) to 5 a.m. Monday
(Oct. 18).
Westbound
motorists bound for the Vista or Orchard interchanges will continue using the
temporary ramp lanes at the Broadway Interchange until early 2011. The speed
limit is 45 mph on the temporary ramp lanes.
The right-hand, westbound exit-only
lane from Broadway to Orchard will be restricted to one lane for the next
several weeks. Restrictions will occur between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. on
weeknights, and until 7 a.m. on weekends.
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.
Only one lane will be open in both
directions on I-84 Monday night between the Meridian Interchange and Black Cat
Road while crews remove part of the falsework structure that supports the
bridge during construction. Restrictions will begin at 10 p.m. Monday (Oct. 11)
and end at 5 a.m. Tuesday (Oct. 12).
The $33.8 million project is expected to
be complete in summer 2011.
NAMPA - Franklin to 11th interstate widening
Work is progressing on a project to widen
Interstate 84 between the Franklin Boulevard and Garrity Boulevard interchanges
in Nampa.
I-84 motorists can expect
ongoing nighttime lane reductions between Franklin and 11th Avenue from 10 p.m.
to 5 a.m., Sunday evenings through Saturday mornings. This allows crews to
safely work along the shoulder while excavating, grading and performing pipe
work in the median.
Crews will soon begin the process of concrete paving in the median, once pipe
work is complete and new roadbed is in place. Paving is scheduled overnight
between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.
These newly paved sections will eventually carry traffic, though that may be
months from now after bridge work is complete.
The widening project includes replacement of the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR)
and Phyllis Canal bridges to accommodate the additional lanes on I-84. The UPRR
Bridge has been partially dismantled to prepare for reconstruction in the
median between eastbound and westbound lanes. A portion of the Phyllis Canal is
slated for demolition in early November, after the irrigation season is
complete.
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 Franklin and
Garrity 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.
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.
The westbound
Garrity off-ramp will return to its original configuration in about two weeks.
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 I-84
westbound off-ramp will be moved back to its original location closer to the Robinson
Road overpass overnight Friday or Saturday depending on weather. The new ramp
will allow traffic to use the far right lane on I-84 (slow lane) as a dedicated
exit lane. This should reduce some of the congestion during the evening commute
and for Idaho Center events.
The new dedicated right-turn lane on to the westbound on-ramp from Garrity
Boulevard is open. Some work is still to be completed on or near the turn lane
but it is open for traffic currently.
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 & VALLEY COUNTY
Idaho 55 bridge deck repairs
Three
bridge decks spanning Idaho 55 in Ada and Valley counties will have surface
cracks repaired. The project is expected only to last several weeks.
The
work will extend the life of the bridges. The cracks vary in size, and are
caused by general wear-and-tear and the aging concrete. The project will fill
the cracks and then seal the repaired surface. A full-width concrete
waterproofing also will be added
The
bridges are at Lake Fork near milepost 135, Boulder Creek near milepost 131 and
Dry Creek near milepost 48. Dry Creek Bridge is about 28-and-a-half miles north
of the U.S. 20/26 junction. Boulder Creek is on the south side of Donnelly, at
the city limits. The Lake Fork structure is three miles south of the town of
Lake Fork.
Restruction Corp., of West Valley City,
Utah, is the contractor on this $90,000 project.
BOISE/VALLEY COUNTY
BANKS TO
ROUND VALLEY ROCKFALL
A rockfall mitigation project to improve safety along the
highway is under way on Idaho 55 from Banks to Round Valley.
Loose rock will be removed from the rockfall zone and crews
will add netting to prevent falling rocks from entering the roadway. Work must
be completed by mid-November.
Lane closures and traffic delays will occur during the
removal of the rocks on the slopes and the cleanup required on the road. Delays
could last for more than 15 minutes because of the unpredictability of the size
and amount of rock that could come down at any one time. The operations will
concentrate on one area at a time, but there will be two locations of traffic
control because guardrail at the north end of the project is being removed to
be used during rock-removal operations.
Crews will work on the side of the roads in several locations along this
26-mile stretch of highway (milepost 76 to 102). Crews are working a
weekdays-only schedule, and must be off the road by noon on Fridays.
The contractor
completed setting the anchors for hanging the wire mesh in work area One (milepost
80.1) last week. They worked on hanging the wire mesh this week.
While the wire mesh is being installed, the contractor worked on scaling work
area Two (milepost 80.3). Also, they worked on finishing the guardrail
replacement between milepost 91.5 and 91.8.
Western Construction, of Boise, is the contractor on this
$971,000 project.
BOISE
COUNTY
IDAHO
21 - Warm Spring Creek bridge guardrail
Guardrail replacement on the Warm
Spring Creek Bridge on Idaho 21 is under way. Work is expected to continue
through late October or early November.
The bridge is located at milepost 91, about 19 miles east of Lowman, near the
Bonneville Campground and one-half mile from the South Fork Payette River
Bridge.
Flaggers and the occasional use of a temporary traffic signal will be required
for traffic control. The speed limit will be reduced to 35 mph through the work
zone.
MarCon Inc., of Meridian, is the contractor on this $177,000 project.
CANYON
COUNTY
MIDDLETON- road improvement projects
Crews are working on two road improvement
projects in Middleton: Widening a one-third-mile section of North Middleton
Road from Idaho 44 to Mill Slough (north of Main Street) and realigning a short
segment 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.
Nampa Paving & Asphalt Co. is the contractor on this $884,000 combined
project.
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.
By today (Friday, Oct. 8), crews will finish lowering water lines that run
below N. Middleton Road between Harmon Way and Second Street to allow for
paving. The project team would like to thank residents who may have experienced
water service interruptions on Monday for their patience. At the
completion of the project, crews will return to repair those sections of
roadway and adjacent landscaping that were disturbed by the water line work.
Next week (the week of Oct. 11-15), crews will finish installing curb, gutter
and driveway approaches. This work is weather dependent. Sidewalk installation
on the east side of N. Middleton Road will begin as soon as curb and gutter
work is complete.
The Middleton Road widening will include
one lane in each direction, a center turn lane, sidewalks, curb and gutter.
Cemetery Road
A 0.15-mile section Cemetery Road is being realigned, extending from Idaho
44 to 3rd Street.
The new alignment is in place and traffic has been shifted to the new alignment
so that crews can work on the section of Cemetery Road that will become a
residential cul-de-sac off of Idaho 44 (to be called North Highland Court). The
road is open to one lane of traffic in each direction.
To address pedestrian safety across Idaho 44 and along the new Cemetery
Road/Idaho 44 intersection, crews have implemented a pedestrian detour route to
safely navigate the project area. Additional signage has been added to direct
pedestrian traffic. The Idaho Transportation Department also will temporarily
extend the 25 mph zone 300 feet west of the project.
A temporary crosswalk has been added at 3rd Street to keep pedestrians away
from the work zone. In addition, cones were added along Idaho 44 to create a
safe corridor for pedestrians who are passing near the construction area.
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 nearly finished.
Crews are paving, striping and completing final clean-up
items. The project is expected to finish in 2-3 weeks.
The project used the CRABS (Cement Recycled Asphalt Base Stabilization)
method of pavement rehabilitation. In addition, existing guardrail was
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 is 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.
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 is nearing completion. 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.
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.
Traffic has
been reduced to one lane while crews grind rumble strips. All major work should
be done by the end of next week (Oct. 11-15).
Several badly damaged concrete slabs in
the 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 are dismantling the existing
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 entering its
final weeks, 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.
Crews
were unable to work on Monday (Oct. 4) due to weather. On Tuesday crews added
cement on a portion of the northbound lane but stopped when the asphalt hotplant
broke down. Paving occurred at the end of the week.
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 also involves some drainage improvements.
Crews are
working a 7 a.m. to 6 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.
Knife River Corp., of Boise, is the
contractor for the $3.6 million Donnelly to Deinhard 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
nearly finished. Topsoil work and seeding remain.
The topsoil is
in the process of being tested before being used.
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.
Applying
topsoil and seeding the area still remain to be done this fall.
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.