6/3/2011
Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov
Southwest Idaho highway construction report for June 3-10
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.
Construction crews will break up and remove old eastbound pavement near the I-84 Vista Interchange on Saturday (June 4) between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. This work will be loud.
The eastbound off-ramp at the Broadway Interchange will be closed for reconstruction next weekend (June 10-13). The closure will begin at 10 p.m. Friday and continue until 5 a.m. Monday.
Motorists can expect ongoing, intermittent east- and westbound I-84 lane restrictions between Cole/Overland and Broadway interchanges during the month of June. 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
The new Ten Mile Interchange (Exit 42) opened to traffic on May 25.
?Occasional lane restrictions will continue on Ten Mile Road this summer for landscaping and guardrail work. The speed limit is 35 mph on Ten Mile Road.
I-84 will be restricted to two lanes in both directions in late June and early July while the contractor completes permanent pavement. The lane restrictions will affect a two-mile stretch of I-84 around the interchange.
Idaho Sand & Gravel, of Nampa, is the contractor on this $33.8 million project. The landscaping work is under a separate $580,000 contract to Franz Witte Landscape Contracting.
All construction is scheduled to be completed this summer.
ITD is doing the initial Ten Mile landscaping. Once the landscaping project is finished in late July, the day-to-day maintenance of that landscaping system reverts to the city of Meridian.
I-84 widening, Franklin to Garrity
Work is progressing on the project to widen Interstate 84 between the Franklin Boulevard and Garrity Boulevard interchanges in Nampa.
Work is currently focused on the ramps and bridges. On the ramps, concrete paving is progressing with little traffic impact. The Franklin westbound off-ramp will be re-striped in the near future, and traffic was recently shifted on the Franklin westbound off-ramp.
Girders were set last week on the eastbound Union Pacific Railroad bridge, and through late June crews will continue metal decking and rebar work. On the westbound side, crews are preparing for bridge removal later in June. Work on the Phyllis Canal bridge is suspended until after irrigation season this fall, when water is out of the canal.
Construction of two new bridges over the UPRR and Phyllis Canal will accommodate the additional lanes on I-84. Ongoing activity on the project to widen this stretch of I-84 includes building abutments and retaining walls for the bridges.
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 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.
In the future, the city of Nampa may improve the sidewalk being built on the west side by installing pedestrian crossings and signals.
Motorists traveling through the Garrity Interchange can expect delays from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.
Wednesday, June 1
- Traffic was reduced to one lane in each direction of Garrity. The lane restrictions allowed crews to wedge mill and curb mill in preparation for paving.
Thursday, June 2 and Friday, June 3
- Traffic on Garrity will be reduced to one lane in each direction, and flaggers will guide traffic through the signals. Motorist should expect delays while workers perform asphalt paving on Garrity.
Saturday, June 4 – Sunday, June 5
- Traffic will be shifted on all four interchange ramps as needed to pave the ramps. Flaggers will be used to guide motorists.
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 began April 11 on a bridge project on Idaho 55 near Banks. The work on the South Fork Payette River Bridge finished just prior to Memorial Day, and paving from Banks south will occur next week. Crews are working on guardrail this week as a pre-cursor to the asphalt paving.
Once paving operations begin, traffic will be reduced to one lane. Pilot cars and flaggers will direct traffic.
The 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.
The deck of the bridge received a silica fume treatment to prevent further corrosion and penetration by water and salts.
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 have nearly completed railing work on the east side, and are still working on the top of the piers underneath the bridge. The contractor is preparing to paint the steel structure within the next couple of weeks.
Crews are working with management of the Lucky Peak Reservoir and will be setting up buoys once the water level reaches the anticipated peak flow. For now, the contractor and the county sheriff’s office are discouraging boaters from gathering underneath the bridge.
Work remains in a one-lane configuration.
RSCI, of Meridian, is the contractor on the $2.8 million project.
Robie Creek to Idaho City – Idaho 21 overlay
A thin asphalt layer is being added to a 17-mile stretch of Idaho 21 between Robie Creek and Idaho City. The work began May 17, and will take about two months to complete.
This project, from milepost 22-39, will receive a thin-lift overlay of 1.8 inches of new pavement to extend the life of the pavement and restore the driving surface for a smoother ride.
One lane will be closed during the overlay work, with pilot cars and flaggers directing traffic. No lane closures are allowed at night. Crews will work Monday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The speed limit in that area will be reduced to 45 mph, and to 35 mph in the immediate work zone. Crews may work on the weekends, but do not plan to do so as a rule.
The contractor continued paving one lane at a time through Thursday - about two and one half miles per day - utilizing a pilot car and flaggers. Crews will continue next week with paving, alternating the lane being paved each day to keep the length of an abrupt edge down the centerline to a minimum.
Central Paving Co. Inc., of Boise, is the contractor on this $2.1 million project.
NEAR LOWMAN – Fish-passage project
A fish-passage project east of Lowman is expected to begin June 16 and continue through early December, the Idaho Transportation Department announced.
The project includes replacing the existing culvert near milepost 83 (Lowman is at milepost 72) with a short-span bridge, followed by stream rehabilitation.
The road will be reduced to one lane for the duration of the work, controlled at each end by a temporary traffic signal. Crews anticipate working a Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule.
This project is being funded through the U.S. Forest Service.
Cannon Builders Inc., of Blackfoot, is the contractor on this $1.2 million project
CANYON COUNTY
CALDWELL – I-84 westbound slip ramp construction
Work has begun on construction of an I-84 westbound slip ramp in Caldwell. The project is expected to be completed in late July.?
?A restriction on wide loads will take effect in Caldwell for Interstate 84 traffic, and the westbound ramp from U.S. 20/26 (Chinden Boulevard) onto I-84 will be detoured through mid-July as crews work on constructing a slip ramp in that area.?
?The ramp traffic will be directed west and the oversize loads to the east at exit 29:??- I-84 westbound traffic more than 14 feet in width will be detoured at exit 29, then east on U.S. 20/26, north on Middleton Road and then west on Idaho 44, back to I-84 at Exit 25. ? ?
The I 84 westbound on-ramp will be closed. That traffic will be detoured west on Franklin Road to North 21st Avenue and then to Blaine Street, north on Blaine Street to Centennial Way and then back to I-84 at Exit 27.
The slip ramp - a lane that starts and ends between an on-ramp and an off-ramp - will run between the 10th Street Interchange and Franklin Road Interchange. The mile-long slip ramp will allow motorists to enter I-84 at Franklin, remain in the lane farthest right, and exit at 10th - never having to merge with interstate traffic.
A similar auxiliary lane is expected to run eastbound on I-84 between Franklin and Garrity boulevards when that project is completed in 2012.
?"This is yet another good example of road construction that will improve traffic flow here in the Treasure Valley," said former Senate Transportation Chairman John McGee, who was the chairman when this project was first identified and proposed.
Westbound travel between Nampa and Caldwell on I-84 had increased from about 14,000 in 1995 to more than 20,000 vehicles per day by 2009.
Concrete Placing Co., of Boise, is the contractor on the $1.16 million project.
NAMPA – City traffic signal synchronization
A project has been under way since January to link traffic signals, creating a more efficient traffic flow in and around downtown Nampa.
The project will allow traffic signals to be synchronized through fiber optics and 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.
This week, the contractor continued work on replacing the signal at 12th Avenue and 2nd Street by digging and installing pole foundations and replacing sidewalk that was removed for the work. The signal replacement is being done through a change order to the project.
In addition, crews finished work on the wireless communication equipment that will allow the city to control signal timing from their traffic service shop. This finishes up the entire project except for the change order work at 12th and 2nd.
Through the middle of next week, the contractor intends to continue work on the signal at 12th and 2nd and install pedestrian poles. After that, there will not be any work until approximately July 5, when the signal poles arrive.
The work is expected to finish in July.
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.
OWYHEE COUNTY
SW of MARSING – U.S. 95 resurfacing
Approximately 17 miles of rural, two-lane U.S. 95, from the Idaho/Oregon border northeast into Owyhee County, will be repaved. The project is anticipated to extend into mid-July.
Drivers can expect intermittent lane closures and pilot cars will guide motorists during the work. The speed limit in the work zone will be reduced to 45 mph, and work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, with no work anticipated on the weekends unless necessary.
The first seven miles of the project will be done using the CRABS (Cement Recycled Asphalt Base Stabilization) process. The remainder of the project will require an overlay with a SALSA (Stress Absorbing Straight Layer of Asphalt).
CRABS involves grinding the existing roadway down to the gravel base, then adding cement to the old asphalt. This process extends the life of the roadway. SALSA is a process which involves shooting a layer of straight asphalt on the pavement and then applying a thin coat of chips. The SALSA process also includes an overlay of plant mix, which is a blend of asphalt and crushed rocks.
Idaho Sand & Gravel Co., of Nampa, is the contractor on this $4.9 million 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 summer 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 complete.
The road has been blue-topped (bringing it to the subgrade elevation) on the north and work continues on the south side of the project.
Forms are being stripped from the first of the deck sections poured on the south side of the bridge. Deck formwork has been completed from pier 4 to abutment 2 and the rebar mat is being constructed.
JC Constructors Inc., of Meridian, is the contractor for this $6.17 million project.