10/15/2010
Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov
Southwest Idaho highway construction report for Oct. 15-22
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 from 8 p.m. Friday (Oct. 15) to 5
a.m. Monday (Oct. 18). Motorists wanting to enter westbound I-84 at Broadway
will be re-directed onto eastbound I-84, where they will travel a few miles to
the Gowen Interchange to turn around and access westbound I-84.
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.
Westbound
ramp traffic and through traffic will be restricted to one lane at some points
during the weekend (Oct. 15-18).
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. Next week crews will continue disassembling the 200-foot,
wood-and-steel structure that supported the bridge during the first phases of
construction.
I-84
will be reduced to one lane in both directions every night from Sunday to
Thursday (Oct. 17-21). The restrictions will affect a three-mile stretch
between the Meridian Road Interchange and Black Cat Road overpass.
All lanes on I-84 will be closed between
Meridian and Garrity on Friday and Saturday nights (Oct. 22 and 23). A detour
route will be provided for drivers.
Restrictions and closures will occur
between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. on weeknights, and between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. on the
weekend.
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 plan to begin paving sections of the median next week (Oct. 18-22) after
pipe work is complete and new road bed is in place. Paving is scheduled
overnight between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. and will continue into November.
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.
I-84 will be
closed in both directions from Meridian to Garrity overnight (10 p.m. 7 a.m.)
Oct. 22 and Oct. 23. Traffic will be detoured down Franklin Road and will enter
or exit I-84 at the Meridian and Garrity interchanges.
The
entire 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.
Western Construction, of Boise, is the contractor on this
$971,000 project.
BOISE
COUNTY
IDAHO
21 - Repair of 10 bridges
Ten bridge decks along Idaho 21 are being
repaired and preserved in a unique highway contract.
The bridges include the Boise River
Bridge at Diversion Dam and one at Chapman Creek. The rest are along Mores
Creek. Under this "Fixed Price/Best Value" contracting method,
construction is likely to finish before winter arrives - just in time for the
traveling public to benefit from the new riding surface on the usually snowy
Idaho 21 route.
In contrast to the department's typical method of selecting the lowest
qualified bidder for each project, contractors were asked on this project to
bid the maximum amount of bridge deck rehabilitation they could accomplish
within a fixed budget. The contract was then awarded to the lowest responsible
bidder, defined as the bidder providing the lowest price per square yard of
deck rehab. Each bidder also was asked to tell ITD how long it would take to do
the work.
Truesdell Corp. of Tempe, Arizona, was awarded the contract, based on the
ability to do all 10 bridges - 10,435.5 square yards of bridge decks - for the
$700,000 price tag.
Patch work took
place Tuesday (Oct. 12) at Chapman Creek. The contractor started repairs to
Diversion Dam Bridge later that same day. Depending on temperatures, it is
possible that the project will be complete soon.
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 between Idaho 44 and Main Street is closed to through
traffic and open to local residents only. Non-resident motorists driving around
road closure signs may be ticketed.
During the week of Oct. 18, crews will pave this section of North Middleton
Road. Lanes will be marked with temporary tabs before crews paint permanent
lane stripes. Curb, gutter and sidewalk work is complete in this area.
Before project completion, crews will return to repair sections of
roadway and adjacent landscaping that were disturbed during previous water line
work.
Once paving is complete on this section of North Middleton, work will shift
north, to the section of North Middleton Road between Main Street and the south
side of the canal bridge, just south of Mill Creek School.The widening will
include one lane in each direction, a center turn lane, sidewalks, curb and
gutter. Work on this section is anticipated to be complete in December. This
section of road will be closed during construction. Traffic will be detoured
via Triumph Drive and Dewey Avenue to access Idaho 44.
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.
Crews anticipate paving North Highland Court within the next two weeks.
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, and the Idaho Transportation Department has put in a
request to temporarily extend the 25mph zone 300 west of the project.
Also 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.
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.
Crews are
working on grinding in rumble strips on the westbound side, and also installing
delineators. The anticipated project completion date is Oct. 22.
The speed limit is 45 mph over the median crossovers, and 55 mph between them.
Several badly damaged concrete slabs in
the stretch are being 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.
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.
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.
Crews are done
paving, will be grinding down bumps next week (Oct. 18-22), and then the road
will be re-striped. If the weather holds, the project will be substantially
complete in a few weeks.
Knife River Corp., of Boise, is the
contractor for this $3.6 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
nearly finished.
Applying
topsoil and seeding the area still remain to be done.
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.
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.