2/18/2011
Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov
Southwest Idaho highway construction report for Feb. 18-25
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.
I-84 motorists traveling
west were shifted back to the westbound side of the interstate on Thursday
night (Feb. 17). Westbound I-84 now has two through lanes and a third lane for
traffic merging on and off I-84. ITD reminds motorists to slow down, pay attention and watch for merging
traffic.
Over the next few weeks,
crews will be preparing the eastbound side of the interstate for the next
traffic shift.
Concrete Placing Co.
Inc., 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.
One
lane of westbound I-84 will be closed from 10 p.m. Tuesday (Feb. 22) to 5 a.m.
Wednesday (Feb. 23) for work on the future interchange ramps.
The
speed limit is 55 mph on I-84.
Idaho Sand & Gravel, of Nampa, 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
On the project to widen Interstate 84 between the Franklin
Boulevard and Garrity Boulevard interchanges in Nampa, work is progressing on
concrete paving in the median.
Crews continue their work on several concrete-related tasks,
including parapet work on the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) bridge and concrete
foundations for overhead sign structures. Construction of two new bridges over
the UPRR and Phyllis Canal is nearly complete. Replacement of the bridges will
accommodate the additional lanes on I-84.
No traffic impacts are expected for any of these construction
activities.
This project is expected to be complete by early summer
2012.
There will be weekend ramp closures in March as traffic switches
to the paved median.
Concrete Placing Co. Inc., 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 two-mile 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.
Crews are currently constructing the eastbound bridge and building
the subbase on the eastbound roadway. Crews have begun forming the deck, which
will require that lanes on Garrity under the bridge be shifted around the work
zones during the day. Motorists will still have three lanes open (two
southbound and one northbound) - they will just shift around from day to day.
Work on
the bridge deck is weather dependent.
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.
ADA
COUNTY
BOISE
- Floating Feather Road/Idaho 16 intersection turnbay project
A
project to add a turnbay to the intersection of Floating Feather Road to serve
north- and southbound traffic is under way.
The
bridge must be completed by March 15, in time for the irrigation season. The
roadwork will finish by May 1.
A 10-foot irrigation structure (concrete box culvert) exists within the
project's limits and will be extended on both sides of Idaho 16 to allow for
the lane addition. The project also involves some road widening.
During the project, traffic will use one lane in each direction, just as it is
now. The speed limit will be reduced.
Crews
are bringing in the subbase roadway material to widen sections of Idaho 16, and
constructing the box culvert extensions.
Traffic is being controlled by flaggers. When the flaggers
are present the speed limit is 35 mph. It is 45 mph during non-working
hours on the project. Law enforcement is monitoring this area.
The crew has been working on the culvert
and excavating for the ballast section, and the shoulders are closed for the
culvert. Flaggers are halting traffic as subbase material for the roadway is
delivered. The culvert work, which will require a shoulder closure, is
expected to go on for another three weeks and the base material be completely
placed in two weeks.
Deer Flat Sand & Gravel Inc., of Nampa, is the contractor on this $266,000
project.
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 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.
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.
Crews are finishing up stabilization at the bridge
foundation for this year. The water level rose sooner than normal, so
crews will have to complete the foundation work during the next water draw-down
period this fall. Workers will continue work above water with a one-lane
operation. The project will not likely be finished until November 2011,
but there may be a short period without traffic control, followed by another
one-lane operation on the bridge.
RSCI, of Meridian, is the contractor on
the $2.8 million project.
CANYON
COUNTY
NAMPA
City traffic signal synchronization
A project began on 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 contractor has drilled and installed conduit down 11th
Avenue from 3rd Street to 1st Street and down 2nd Street from 11th Avenue to 12th
Avenue. Crews continue to drill and install conduit down 2nd Street from 12th
Avenue to 16th Avenue. There are intermittent lane closures in the downtown
area from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. for equipment storage and utility
exploration.
All the work so far is underground, through a 2-foot by
3-foot access hole.
There will be intermittent lane closures on 16th Avenue and
12th Avenue (Idaho 45) during non-peak hours for equipment storage and utility
exploration.
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.
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.
The contractor is working on guardrail terminals, and should
soon begin fencing work.
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. Diaphragms are
being formed and placed between the girders. The north cofferdam has been
constructed and dewatered. Pile driving is complete on piers 4 and
5. Seal concrete has been poured at piers 4 and 5. Formwork and rebar
are in progress for pier 4. Abutment walls on abutment 2 have been
poured.
Preparation for the bridge deck on the
south side has started.
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.
For Incident Response
service on I-84 or the Connector (I-184) in the Treasure Valley, please call
Idaho State Police Dispatch at 846-7500 or *ISP. Incident Response can assist
with flat tires, dead batteries, vehicles out of gas, refilling a radiator,
calling a tow truck, or use of a cell phone.