3/18/2011
Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov
Southwest Idaho highway construction report for March 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.
East-and westbound I-84 will be restricted between Cole/Overland and Broadway interchanges intermittently during the month of March. All lane restrictions will occur between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.
Construction will be very loud between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. in March.
The contractor is breaking up the existing eastbound pavement, which will be
reconstructed this spring and summer.
Concrete Placing Co. Inc., of Boise, is the contractor. This $35.9 million project is expected to be complete this summer.
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.
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.
This coming weekend (March 18-21), motorists wanting to use the eastbound ramps at Nampa's Franklin Boulevard and Garrity Boulevard interchanges will be detoured in preparation for shifting traffic to the concrete center median.
To make the transition possible, weekend closures of the ramps will be necessary to allow crews to build new lanes and ramps connecting to the median.
Work is scheduled to begin Friday night at 10 p.m. and conclude by Monday morning at 5 a.m. Crews will be working at these eastbound ramps:
Closed: Franklin Boulevard on-ramp
Closed: Garrity Boulevard off-ramp (expected to re-open by 7 a.m. Saturday)
Click here to view a map of the impacts and detour.
The ramp construction is planned during night and weekend hours to minimize impacts to weekday commuters. Ramp traffic will be detoured to Birch Lane. Interstate 84 through traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction in the evening. All I-84 lanes will remain open during the day. The work schedule may be affected by weather.
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 are 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.
There will be a lot of activity going on in the next few weeks, highlighted by the installation of sidewalks, which is scheduled to begin in two weeks.
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
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 contractor backfilled the culvert ends Wednesday (March 16). The remaining three-quarter-inch roadway base material was placed Thursday. The contractor intends to pave the roadway on Monday and Tuesday, March 21 and 22. Traffic will be restricted to one lane during paving, with intermittent stoppage of traffic each way. After paving, only the seeding operation remains to be completed.
The paving operation will be contingent on temperature and precipitation - the surface and air temperatures need to be 40 degrees or higher and the pavement must be dry.
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.
Crews have worked on the north seismic beam at the north abutment and are working on removing the old rail on the east side of the bridge.
RSCI, of Meridian, is the contractor on the $2.8 million project.
BOISE/VALLEY COUNTIES
If weather allows, a rockfall mitigation project from Banks north to Round Valley on Idaho 55 that was discontinued for the winter will resume for a few months starting Monday (March 21).
Loose rock will be removed from the rockfall zone to prevent it from falling onto the roadway. Work must be completed by the Memorial Day holiday.
Click here for map of location.
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.
Crews will work on the side of the road in several locations along this 26-mile stretch of highway (milepost 76 to 102). Crews are working four 10-hour days (Monday through Thursday) with some clean-up Friday. They must be off the road by noon on Fridays and are prohibited from working on weekends to accommodate the tourism and recreational activities.
Western Construction, of Boise, is the contractor on this $1.6 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 is repairing the sidewalk that was removed for drilling in various areas on 2nd and modifying signal cabinet foundations to prepare them for new cabinet installation. The signals at 2nd and 13th and 2nd and 14th are shut off so that crews can rewire them. The intersections are operating with stop signs on 13th and 14th avenues.
Second Street has the right of way through the intersections.
There are intermittent lane closures in the downtown area from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. for equipment storage.
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.
There is no work currently under way on the project.
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. Girders have been set from abutment 1 to pier 3. Diaphragms are being formed and placed between the girders. Preparations for the south bridge deck are in progress. Piers 4 and 5 are complete. Girders have been set on spans 4 and 5 completing the in-water work for the season. Cofferdams and sheet piling are now being removed.
No flooding on the Payette River has occurred, but the high water has slowed down the crews efforts to remove the remaining portions of the cofferdam.
JC Constructors Inc., of Meridian, is the contractor for this $6.17 million project.
Questions? Visit us online at itd.idaho.gov, follow ITD on Twitter (IdahoITD) or Facebook and check travel conditions at 511.idaho.gov or dial 5-1-1. Please slow down in highway construction zones and pay attention. Safety for drivers and workers is our highest priority.