4/8/2011
Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov
Southwest Idaho highway construction report for April 8-15
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.
Eastbound I-84 shoulders are closed between Cole and Orchard until the week of April 11. ITD is paving two new eastbound lanes on I-84 between Cole and Broadway interchanges.
The shoulder closures will move to the Orchard and Vista areas next week. Shoulders will be closed between Vista and Broadway in mid- to late April.
Motorists should also expect intermittent east- and westbound I-84 lane restrictions between Cole/Overland and Broadway interchanges through the month of April. Restrictions will occur from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
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
Construction of the new I-84, Ten Mile Interchange will continue until early summer. The new interchange will include additional lanes on Ten Mile Road and on- and off-ramps to 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, has begun this spring as the ground thaws.
Setting of the mainline pipe is 95 percent complete. Laterals and sprinkler heads are next to be completed, as well as work in the ramp islands. Electrical power has been run, and the water pump will be installed next week.
I-84 widening, Franklin to Garrity
On the project to widen Interstate 84 between the Franklin Boulevard and Garrity Boulevard interchanges in Nampa, traffic has shifted to the paved concrete median while crews construct the outside travel lanes.
Crews are constructing the off-ramps for both the eastbound Garrity and westbound Franklin off-ramps. Work is planned during daytime hours, and traffic will be shifted around the work zone. Similar work is planned for the westbound Garrity and eastbound Franklin on-ramps in late April and early May.
Other ongoing activity includes construction of overhead sign structures, and abutments and retaining walls for the UPRR bridge. Construction of two new bridges over the UPRR and Phyllis Canal will accommodate the additional lanes on I-84.
Motorists can expect ongoing, intermittent nighttime lane closures for both east- and westbound traffic as crews work to complete the project by early summer 2012. All I-84 lanes remain open during the day.
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.
Motorists can expect additional congestion around the westbound Garrity off-ramp for sidewalk construction. Sidewalks will be built on both sides of Garrity beneath I-84, but at this time pedestrian crossings will only be installed on the east side of Garrity to match up with existing sidewalks and crossing signals. The sidewalk work should take a few weeks to complete, depending on weather conditions.
The current schedule is still highly dependent on weather conditions as much concrete work and paving remains. Also, there will be some future restriping on I-84 that may cause intermittent traffic interruptions.
The work schedule is still highly dependent on weather conditions, with much concrete work and paving remaining. Also, there will be some restriping on I-84 that may cause intermitted interruptions.
In the future, the city of Nampa may improve the sidewalk being built on the west side by installing pedestrian crossings and signals.
Traffic on Garrity Boulevard will be shifted around into different configurations during daytime hours as crews work underneath the bridge. Two southbound and one northbound lane will remain open.
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
Near Banks Road & Bridge project
Work is expected to begin Monday (April 11) on a pair of road and bridge projects on Idaho 55 near Banks in Boise County. The work should be completed on the South Fork Payette River Bridge just prior to Memorial Day, and paving to occur after the holiday weekend.
At milepost 78.7, the deck of the bridge will receive a silica fume treatment to prevent further corrosion and penetration by water and salts. Bridge rail also will be repaired and repainted.
A pavement preservation project involves approximately 14 miles of roadway from just north of Horseshoe Bend at the Payette River Bridge north to about two miles north of the Idaho 55 and Banks-to-Lowman road intersection. About 1.8 inches of new pavement will be applied in a thin-lift paving procedure.
Click here for a map of the project locations.
Traffic will be reduced to one lane with temporary signals at the Idaho 55 and Banks-to-Lowman intersection for the bridge repair. Once paving operations begin, traffic will be reduced to one lane. Pilot cars and flaggers will direct traffic.
Knife River Corp., of Boise, is the contractor on this $2.6 million project.
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 continue working on the bridge rails, pier columns, and bumper assemblies.
Traffic is still in a one-lane configuration.
RSCI, of Meridian, is the contractor on the $2.8 million project.
BOISE/VALLEY COUNTIES
A rockfall mitigation project from Banks north to Round Valley on Idaho 55 that was discontinued for the winter has resumed.
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.
Last winter crews left off at milepost 82.7, but over the winter several slides occurred next to that spot. The slides this spring have filled the gutters, covered the drainage pipe inlets, and damaged several lengths of guardrail.
The contractor finished cleaning up slide material in the gutter on Wednesday (April 6). The rock scalers have completed scaling from milepost 82.9 to 82.7. They started on the north end of the work zone and worked south toward the slide area to give time to clean out the gutter and let the slope stabilize before continuing their scaling above the slide.
The crew is currently working the loose rock at the brow above the slide and south of the slide where rocks have been exposed from the winter runoff. The contractor expects to have this wrapped up by next week, unless more material starts to slide down.
Also, the contractor will start hydro-seeding at this location to help stabilize the slope.
A contractor was used to clean up the slide area because he was already working in the vicinity and had the equipment to respond quickly.
Once crews have finished the scaling, cleaning the gutter, and hydro-seeding, they will be moving to the next area at milepost 99.9 (south end of the Rainbow Bridge). ITD maintenance crews will be responsible to clean up any additional slide material as the contractor will have moved his equipment to another location.
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. The project is on pace to be completed in June.
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.
Most concrete work on the project has been finished. Most concrete work should be done by the end of the week, but crews may have a few panels of sidewalk to replace after that.
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.
Crews are continuing to modify the signals at 2nd and 13th and 2nd and 14th to operate with the new equipment. The signals at these intersections are shut off so the contractor 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 was paved and waterproofed last week.
Seeding will happen later this month.
Because of weather, no work happened until waterproofing on Wednesday and paving on Thursday (March 29-30). Seeding is planned for early next week.
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 under way. It is expected to take about
two years to complete, finishing in fall 2012.
Crews are replacing 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 are complete and bridge girders have been set. The cofferdams have been removed from the river. Diaphragms are being formed and placed between the girders.
Deck formwork is under way on the south side and is complete out to Pier 2. Rip rap (large rock lining the riverbank to prevent erosion and protect the embankment and abutment) has been placed around the north abutment. Earthwork and contouring have also been completed there. Preparations for the new road on the north side have begun with asphalt removal and roadway fill in the old median area.
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.