Idaho

Transportation Department

11/12/2010

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

Southwest Idaho highway construction report for Nov. 12-19

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.

 

Motorists will be using a new westbound on-ramp at the Orchard Interchange early next week.

 

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.

 

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.

 

Ten Mile Road is closed to motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists between Franklin and Overland roads.

 

Construction vehicles and heavy equipment are entering and exiting the project area from westbound I-84 near the new bridge. The speed limit is 55 mph on I-84.

 

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.  
 
Expect occasional nighttime lane reductions between Franklin and Garrity from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., Sunday evenings through Saturday mornings. This allows crews to safely work along the shoulder and in the median while excavating, grading and performing pipe work.
 
The widening project includes replacement of the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) and Phyllis Canal bridges to accommodate the additional lanes on I-84. Work is underway to reconstruct the UPRR Bridge in the median between east- and westbound lanes. Crews are using a large crane to drive piles, which are used in the bridges foundation. The piles are driven by large hammers mounted on the crane. The bridge over the Phyllis Canal has been dismantled, and crews are also pile driving at this location.
 
Concrete paving in sections of the median is under way, and will soon be wrapping up for the season. Paving is scheduled during overnight hours (10 p.m. - 5 a.m.). Following completion of bridge work, the newly paved sections will eventually carry traffic -  possibly after the first of the year. 

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.

 

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 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.

 

Overview of upcoming changes in traffic, weather permitting:

• I-84 westbound will be closed from Meridian to Garrity overnight (10 p.m. 5 a.m.) Friday (Nov. 19). Traffic will be detoured down Franklin Road, exit I-84 at the Meridian Interchange and re-enter I-84 at the Garrity Interchanges. If weather is an issue on 11/19, the closure will take place the night of Saturday (Nov. 20). The closure is needed to install an overhead sign, repair a trench drain, and to move westbound traffic to the north out of the median area and onto the new westbound bridge. Eastbound traffic will remain in its current configuration until Sunday morning (Nov. 21).
• I-84 eastbound will be reduced to one lane at the Garrity Interchange from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Saturday night (Nov. 20) while crews work on the eastbound ramp and prepare to shift eastbound traffic into the median.
• I-84 eastbound traffic will be moved north into the median approximately one-quarter mile east of the Garrity Interchange on Sunday morning (Nov. 21). Once motorist are past the Garrity Interchange, traffic will switch back to the south out of the median. This configuration is expected to last several months while crews remove and replace the eastbound bridge at Garrity.
• Garrity Boulevard overnight (10 p.m. - 5 a.m.) closure is planned for Saturday (Nov. 27) into Sunday morning (Nov. 28) to remove the existing I-84 eastbound bridge over Garrity Boulevard.

 

 

Following is an update on non-GARVEE state highway construction projects in southwest Idaho.

 

ADA COUNTY

MERIDIAN - EAGLE ROAD AND ST LUKES ROAD IMPROVEMENT

Installation of pedestrian ramps and drainage improvements at the intersection of Eagle and St. Luke's roads continues.

Crews are installing pedestrian access ramps on the northwest and southwest corners to enable access to the pedestrian signal buttons. Crews also will replace some curb and gutter and to channel stormwater drainage away from the intersection. Water now pools and runs onto the roadway across the crosswalks. A drainage trench will be installed in the borrow ditch along the southbound roadway between St. Luke's Road and Magic View Drive to allow runoff to dissipate into the ground.

Crews will work from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Sundays through Thursdays for the next few weeks, depending on the weather.   
 
The southbound right lane will be closed between Autumn Way and Magic View Drive, but the speed limit will not be reduced.
 
This is part of the earlier $1.35 million Eagle Road resurfacing contract. Central Paving Co. Inc., of Boise, is the contractor.

 

BOISE/VALLEY COUNTY

BANKS TO ROUND VALLEY ROCKFALL

A rockfall mitigation project to improve safety along the highway is wrapping up 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 is finishing working at milepost 94. Some very large bus-sized rocks have come down in the area without any blasting. Hence, the travel lanes have incurred some damage that will need to be repaired.
 
Next week (Nov. 15-19), the contractor will be moving south to milepost 82 and will try to complete this area before Thanksgiving, weather permitting. After Thanksgiving, there will be some guardrail work to complete. The contractor will need to come back next spring to complete the repairs and seed the slopes.

 

Western Construction, of Boise, is the contractor on this $971,000 project.

 

CANYON COUNTY

MIDDLETON- road improvement projects

Crews are working on two road improvement projects in Middleton: Widening a third-of-a-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
The section of North Middleton Road between Main Street and the south side of the canal bridge, just south of Mill Creek Elementary School, was under construction. The widening will include one lane in each direction, a center turn lane, sidewalks, curb and gutter. The road reopened today (Friday, Nov. 12). Some minor tasks and clean-up remain.
 
Paving, sidewalk, curb and gutter are complete on this section of N. Middleton Road. Lane striping and permanent markings for crosswalks and stoplines at intersections remain. Crews are waiting for good weather (50 degrees or more) to finish lane striping.
 
Motorists driving around road closure signs may be ticketed. A posted detoured route is in place, via Triumph Drive and Dewey Avenue, to Idaho 44.
 
To increase pedestrian safety near the school, orange construction safety fence has been added to the work zone to mark the area between workers and pedestrians. Pedestrians can walk in park grounds on the east side of N. Middleton Road, and use a new crosswalk at the intersection of N. Middleton and Main Street, where new sidewalks and pedestrian ramps were recently completed.
 
North Middleton Road between Idaho 44 and Main Street is open to traffic. Lane stripes, crosswalk markings and stoplines at intersections are complete. Before project completion, crews will return to repair sections of residential landscaping that were disturbed during previous work.

Cemetery Road
A 0.15-mile section of Cemetery Road has been realigned, extending from Idaho 44 to 3rd Street.
 
The new alignment is in place and traffic is 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). Curb, gutter and sidewalk are also complete on this section of Cemetery Road.
 
On North Highland Court, most work is complete, including paving, curb, gutter, sidewalk are driveway approaches.  
 
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 25 mph zone is extended 300 feet west of the construction area.
 
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.

 

ELMORE COUNTY

MOUNTAIN HOME Canyon Creek Bridge replacement

Replacement of the old, narrow Canyon Creek Bridge is under way. The bridge is located near milepost 9 on Canyon Creek Road, north of Mountain Home.

 

The road, which sees a fair amount of hunting-related traffic each fall, will be completely closed through late January.   

 

The detour route will start at the intersection of Canyon Creek Road and Frontage Road, and continue west past the Sunset Highway on Old Oregon Trail Highway. The detour will cross I-84 to the north at Ditto Creek road and continue along Martha Avenue to the east, back to Canyon Creek.

The bridge replacement also involves minimal approach work to the connecting roads to ensure that the bridge and road fit together seamlessly. The bridge also will include guardrail (railing), which the old bridge lacks.

On Thursday (Nov. 11), the contractor removed the old structure.

 

The Mountain Home Highway District is the local sponsor of the project.

 

McAlvain Contractors, of Boise, is the contractor on this $493,000 project.

 

PAYETTE COUNTY
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.

 

Increased law-enforcement patrols have begun in the area.

 

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 nearly finished.

 

Applying topsoil and seeding the area is expected to begin next week (Nov. 15-19).

 

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.