8/23/2011
Hailey to Ketchum resurfacing begins Wednesday
HAILEY – The first portion of the Idaho 75 resurfacing project between Hailey and Ketchum will begin Wednesday (Aug. 24), the Idaho Transportation Department announced. Crews will pave between East Fork Road and Hospital Drive over the next two weeks, before continuing the majority of paving in September.
Crews will apply a “scrub coat” overlay – an approximately one-inch asphalt overlay – on Wednesday through the same area, known as Timber Way to Big Wood River Bridge. The paving is expected to be completed on Friday. Next week, crews will perform a “micro” seal coat over the same stretch of roadway.
Traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction during both processes. Two lanes will remain open on Idaho 75 through the three-lane section. A detour for northbound traffic will be in effect through the two- lane section between Broadway Run and the Big Wood River bridge. Southbound traffic will remain on Idaho 75 and northbound traffic will detour onto Broadway Run to the intersection with Hospital Drive.
This section is receiving the scrub coat and micro-seal to maintain the surface until a full-width reconstruction of the roadway takes place in 2013.
Work will begin after 9 a.m. each day, after the morning commute. There are no afternoon restrictions. Traffic will not be detoured after dark.
Drivers are asked to obey reduced speed limits and lane restrictions to improve safety for drivers and construction crews alike. Drivers should watch for flaggers and be prepared for daily route changes as work progresses.
Work will be suspended for the Labor Day holiday Sept. 2-4. It is estimated that resurfacing the other sections of the Hailey-to-Ketchum corridor will begin as soon as Sept. 8.