1/7/2011
Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov
Southwest Idaho highway construction report for Jan. 7-14
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 I-84 will be restricted to one
lane from 10 p.m. Jan. 11 to 5 a.m. Jan. 12 while crews move guardrail in the
project area. The closure will be rescheduled in the case of inclement weather.
Westbound
motorists bound for the Vista or Orchard interchanges will continue using
temporary ramp lanes at the Broadway Interchange until late 2010. The speed limit is 45 mph on the temporary ramp lanes.
Concrete Placing Co., of
Boise, is the contractor. 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.
All lanes on Ten Mile Road are closed between Franklin and Overland roads.
The Meridian Police and Ada County Sheriffs Department are enforcing the area.
Violators will be ticketed for reckless driving.
The
speed limit is 55 mph on I-84.
Idaho Sand & Gravel is the contractor
on this $33.8 million project, which is expected to be complete in summer 2011.
The landscaping, under a separate $580,000
contract to Franz Witte Landscape Contracting, is set to begin this spring when
the ground thaws.
NAMPA
- Franklin to 11th interstate widening
As part of the project to widen Interstate 84 between the
Franklin Boulevard and Garrity Boulevard interchanges in Nampa, crews have
nearly completed construction of two new bridges over the Union Pacific
Railroad (UPRR) and Phyllis Canal.
Replacement of the bridges will accommodate 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 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.
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.
Construction crews are not able to do a lot of the work
while temperatures are below freezing at the interchange. In the meantime, ITD
will continue performing maintenance work and minor repairs. Major construction
activities should resume the week of Jan. 10 or Jan. 17. Also, as soon as weather
permits, crews will refresh the paint striping on Garrity Boulevard under the
bridge. Once the weather warms up, pile driving will begin on the eastbound
bridge.
Overview of Traffic
- I-84 Eastbound on-ramp is not available
for vehicles over 12 feet wide.
- 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.
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:
COMPLETED
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.
CURRENTLY UNDER WAY
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
East
of Boise - Mores Creek Bridge upgrade
A project to update the Mores Creek
Bridge (commonly known as the High Bridge) on Idaho 21 east of Boise is now
under way.
During this work, the bridge deck and
joints will be rehabilitated and the bridge parapet and railing replaced. Work
on the foundation during the low-water winter period will include a retaining
wall, rock anchoring, slope armoring, and seismic retrofit. Portions of
the structural steel will be painted along with other repairs on the structure.
On Tuesday, the bridge was completely
closed to traffic for foundation repairs.
During the nine-month project, traffic
across the bridge will be controlled by signals at either end, with only one
direction allowed to pass through at a time. Under normal conditions, the
delays are expected to be 15 to 45 minutes in length. In addition, a nine-foot
width restriction will be in effect.
RSCI, of Meridian, is the contractor on
the $2.8 million project.
CANYON
COUNTY
NAMPA
City traffic signal synchronization
A project began on Monday (Jan. 3) to
link traffic signals to create a more efficient traffic flow in and around
downtown Nampa.
This six-month project will allow traffic
signals to be synchronized through fiber optics and will add pedestrian signals
with countdown indicators at intersections. The signal improvements will mean people who drive the posted
speed through the area should have fewer stops for red lights.
The work will be done primarily on 2nd
and 3rd Street South and on 12th and 16th Avenue South. Signals on 7th Street
South also will be included, as will the signal at 1st Street South and 11th
Avenue South.
The work of installing conduit has started along 16th South
at 7th South. Crews will continue north down 16th this week. Once all
conduit is installed on 16th, crews will focus on 2nd South. No traffic impacts
are expected at this time.
Construction crews will try to limit
closures to sidewalks and parking stalls in the work areas. The contract does
allow for lane closures if necessary, but only between the hours of 8:30 a.m.
and 4 p.m.
Quality Electric Inc., of Boise, is the
construction contractor on this $1.01 million project. The city of Nampa paid
for the design on this project and will pay a portion of the construction
contract cost. No ITD funds are being expended on this off-system project. The
funding breakdown is almost 93 percent Federal Aid and just over 7 percent
Local funding. ITD is involved as a steward of the federal aid monies.
NAMPA
- Robinson Road Overpass safety railing
Robinson
Road bridge will be reduced to one lane on Friday (7) as work continues on a project to add a pedestrian
safety rail across the overpass. The work is being done at the request of the
city of Nampa.
The entire project is expected to last about two weeks. One lane of traffic
will be maintained across the overpass, with occasional nighttime I-84 lane and
shoulder closures (10 p.m. to 5 a.m. on weekdays and 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. on
weekends).
The rail, a rigid metal mesh, will be installed across both sides of the
structure on top of the concrete parapet.
Randell Concrete Inc., of Boise, is the contractor on this $149,000 project.
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.
Bridge girders were set Dec. 31. the contractor is currently working on
formwork for the girder stops and end diaphragms.
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.
Piers 1, 2 and 3 and abutment 1 have been
completed. Girders have been set from abutment 1 to pier 3. Work on abutment
2 also is occurring this week.The contractor is driving pile for working on the
cofferdam. Once they get the sheets driven, they will remove the south
cofferdam and move operations to the north side of the river to build the north
cofferdam. Once the north cofferdam is in place, the contractor will start
construction on Piers 4 and 5.
JC Constructors Inc., of Meridian, is the
contractor for this $6.17 million project.
The Idaho Transportation Department is in
charge of all roads within the State Highway System interstates, state
highways and U.S. routes. All other roads are the responsibility of the local
city or county entity.
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.