12/10/2010
Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov
Southwest Idaho highway construction report for Dec. 10-17
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.
Westbound motorists
bound for the Vista or Orchard interchanges will continue using the temporary
ramp lanes at the Broadway Interchange until late 2010. 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
On the project to widen Interstate 84 between the Franklin
Boulevard and Garrity Boulevard interchanges in Nampa, crews are at work
building new bridges over the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) and Phyllis Canal.
Replacement of the bridges will accommodate additional lanes on I-84.
The decks of both bridges have been put in place and the
concrete is curing. Additional work adjacent to the bridges is planned as early
as next week (Dec. 13-17). These activities are weather dependent. No lane
reductions are anticipated for the next two weeks.
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 farthest
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 replaces two bridges on
I-84 at the Garrity Interchange with a single bridge to accommodate three lanes
in each direction on the interstate.
Overview of Traffic Changes
- I-84 Eastbound Through Traffic - I-84 eastbound traffic has been moved
north into the median at the Garrity Interchange. The two lanes of traffic
remain in the median until the third lane is added near the Robinson Road
Overpass. Motorists entering I-84 from Garrity now merge with through traffic
as the third lane at Robinson Road Overpass.
- I-84 Eastbound Off-Ramp - The I-84 off-ramp at Garrity has been
temporarily moved about one-quarter mile west while eastbound traffic is moved
into the median near the Garrity Interchange. The temporary off-ramp is needed
for the next couple of months while crews remove and replace the I-84 eastbound
bridge over Garrity Boulevard.
- I-84 Eastbound On-Ramp - The I-84 on-ramp at Garrity has been
lengthened, allowing for an easier merge with existing I-84 traffic. The new
ramp configuration gives motorists a dedicated lane that merges into I-84 and
becomes the third lane near the Robinson Road Overpass. This configuration is
expected to last until the project is nearly finished in the summer 2011.
- I-84 eastbound is reduced to one lane
most nights, between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., excluding weekends, between the 11th
Avenue overpass and Robinson Road overpass while crews work along the
shoulders. Both lanes will be open by the morning commute and during the day.
Lane reductions are not expected to occur often on Friday or Saturday nights.
- Garrity Boulevard is reduced to one lane
in each direction intermittently near the Garrity Interchange while crews work
under the bridge. The overnight (10 p.m. to 5 a.m.) lane restrictions will not
take place on Friday or Saturday nights. Two southbound and one northbound lane
will be open by the morning commute and during the day.
- Weather permitting, ITD is flagging the
I-84 on-ramps at Garrity following Idaho Center events to move traffic through
the construction area more efficiently. The only event on the schedule right
now is the Jeff Dunham show on the night of Jan. 27.
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.
Following is an update on non-GARVEE
state highway construction projects in southwest Idaho.
ADA
COUNTY
MERIDIAN
- EAGLE ROAD AND ST LUKES ROAD IMPROVEMENT
Minor clean up remains, as well as fixing the crosswalk
pavement markings and completing activities for pedestrian ramps.
The concrete work, paving and dry
wells/shoulder grading are completed.
Stop bars for the Do Not Block
Intersection signs at Commercial Drive will be installed when weather
permits. It has to be dry for two days before installing these thermoplastic
signs.
This is part of the earlier $1.35 million Eagle
Road resurfacing contract. Central Paving Co. Inc., of Boise, is the
contractor.
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.
Crews completed the second concrete pour this week, with another one slated for
next week (Dec. 13-17). Once concrete for the footings, abutments and wing
walls cures, the detour will be removed. The new bridge girders are scheduled
to be placed in late December.
The footings for the new bridge were placed
on Tuesday (Nov. 30).
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.
Crews set about seven girders for the new bridge this week,
and will continue with that work next week as well. The only traffic impacts
are construction trucks pulling in and out of traffic.
JC Constructors Inc., of Meridian, is the
contractor for this $6.17 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.