7/21/2011
Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov
Increasing I-84 capacity: ITD will open new lanes in Boise on Saturday morning (July 23)
BOISE β A three-mile stretch of Interstate 84 in Boise will double in vehicle capacity this weekend. The Idaho Transportation Department will open new eastbound and westbound lanes between the Cole/Overland and Broadway interchanges by 5 a.m. Saturday (July 23).
After the opening, I-84 drivers will have four eastbound and four westbound lanes. A two-year reconstruction project in this area has included installing new drainage, replacing the original two-lane pavement from 1968, and adding two new lanes in both directions.
The new lanes will relieve congestion on the way to Micron Technology, the Boise Airport, Boise State University and numerous Boise-area businesses.
"The expansion of I-84 is expected to meet the needs for commuters, freight carriers and airport users for the next 20 years,β Boise Airport Marketing and Air Service Administrator Patti Miller said. βIt gives the airport expansion opportunities that dovetail with this dynamic transportation corridor in our community.β
Miller estimates that nearly 3 million commercial passengers travel through the airport each year.
ITD asks motorists to drive carefully and observe the 55 mph speed limit, as crews will be finishing minor tasks over the next few weeks. An overnight detour will be scheduled in August while the last two sign bridges are installed near the Vista Interchange.
The speed limit will return to 65 mph at the end of the summer.
Concrete Placing Co., of Boise, is the contractor.
The $35.9 million construction project was funded through the GARVEE Transportation Program, which uses Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicle (GARVEE) bonds to expedite interstate improvements. The GARVEE program has funded 13 reconstruction projects on I-84 since 2007, including the Vista, Orchard, Ten Mile and Garrity interchanges.