3/4/2011
Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov
Southwest Idaho highway construction report for March 4-11
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.
A weekend detour will begin at 10 p.m. tonight (Friday, March 4) for eastbound I-84 ramp traffic between Cole and Broadway interchanges. The detour will end at 5 a.m. Monday (March 7).
During the detour, eastbound traffic must stay in the right-hand lane and exit early to access the Orchard, Vista or Broadway interchanges. A detour route to each interchange, including the Boise Airport (Vista), will begin after the Cole/Overland Interchange. If the detour is missed, plan an additional 15-20 minutes for a typical trip.
The speed limit will be 55 mph for eastbound through traffic and 35 mph for the detour route. Motorists getting on eastbound I-84 at Orchard, Vista or Broadway will share the 35 mph detour lane.
The Orchard westbound off-ramp will be closed overnight Monday (March 7) from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Motorists will be detoured to Cole/Overland and return to eastbound I-84. The closure will allow ITD to repair an electrical conduit across the ramp.
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. 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 now beginning as 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.
As part of the project, on- and off-ramps at Franklin Boulevard and Garrity Boulevard will be closed on several weekends in March - between 10 p.m. Friday and 5 a.m.
Monday:
March 11-14: westbound Garrity on-ramp and Franklin off-ramp
March 18-21: eastbound Garrity off-ramp and Franklin on-ramp
This project is expected to be complete by early summer 2012.
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) theyll 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. 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. The speed
limit will be reduced.
The speed limit is reduced to 35 mph and the shoulders are closed. Traffic is being stopped for intermittent deliveries of base material for the roadway-widening work.
The east end extension of the culvert is being placed today (Friday, March 4). The work on the culvert should be completed in two weeks. The three-quarters-inch roadway base material should all be placed this week. In two weeks, the roadway should be widened to 15 feet each way and the speed increased to 45 mph. The shoulder will still be closed.
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.
Traffic across the bridge is 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 have finished 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, sometime after Labor Day. In the meantime, work will continue above water level.
RSCI, of Meridian, is the contractor on the $2.8 million project.
CANYON COUNTY
NAMPA City traffic signal synchronization
A project now under way will 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 2nd Street from 13th Ave to 16th Ave. He is now beginning to repair the sidewalk that was removed for drilling and modify signal cabinet foundations to prepare them for new cabinet installation. Beginning next week, the signal at 2nd and 13th and 2nd and 14th will be shut off so the contractor can begin to rewire it. The intersections will operate with stop signs on 13th and 14th Avenues. Second Street will have the right of way through the intersections.
Crews have a week or so remaining to bore holes. They will continue work on traffic signal cabinets for the next several weeks.
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 in work hours.
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 winding down. The bridge, near milepost 9 on Canyon Creek Road north of Mountain Home, has temporarily reopened to traffic while the contractor waits for warmer weather to pave. Paving will be a one-day operation.
The contractor will be working on fencing once the materials are approved. Seeding will happen later this month.
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.
All piers and abutments for phase 1 are complete. Diaphragms are being formed and placed between the girders. Preparations are under way for the south bridge deck.
JC Constructors Inc., of Meridian, is the contractor for this $6.17 million project.
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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.