11/22/2005
Construction advances on Phase 1 of the U.S. 93 Twin Falls Alternate Route Stage 1;
New section of Pole Line Road opened
(Note: The following news release clarifies erroneous information included in a previous news release. Please disregard the version sent earlier today.)
SHOSHONE A change in traffic flow is scheduled to begin Monday (Nov. 28) as construction continues on phase 1 of the U.S. 93 Twin Falls Alternate Route, the Idaho Transportation Department announced.
Traffic will shift from the old section of Pole Line Road to the new eastbound and westbound lanes, from west of Grandview Drive to just west of Washington Street.
New stop sign configurations and yield signs have replaced the four-way stop signs at Pole Line Road and Washington Street. The temporary traffic control will be used until late spring of 2006. Because of the change, motorists are urged to use extreme caution when approaching the intersection.
Most of the mainline construction work is finished, allowing the traffic to be rerouted onto the new concrete roadway. Crews will continue to work on the project and reconstruction of the Perrine Coulee Bridge throughout the winter. They also will prepare for construction on the section from just west of Washington Street to Blue Lakes Boulevard and the concrete intersection of Pole Line Road and Washington Street.
As part of the winter construction, Washington Street North of Pole Line will be closed until early spring 2006. This closure is necessary to facilitate the construction of the Washington and Pole Line Road intersection.
A section of the old Pole Line Rd. from Washington St. to Blake St. will be kept open for nearby residents of Villa Del Rio and Los Lagos. Motorists must use Canyon Crest Road to access businesses and all other residences located on Washington Street North.
The $18.8 million Stage 1 will be completed in phases. Phase 1, now nearly complete, begins in the rural section just west of Grandview Drive and consists of four lanes (two travel lanes in each direction) with a depressed median ending just west of Washington Street. Phase 2 is from just west of Washington Street to the end of the project at Blue Lakes Boulevard. The route includes six lanes (three travel lanes in each direction), with raised landscaped medians.
Stage 1 is expected to be completed in the 2006 construction season. Western Construction of Boise is the contractor.
Stage 2 of the Twin Falls Alternate Route, from just west of Grandview Drive to the U.S.30/U.S. 93 Junction, is expected to begin upon the completion of Stage 1, depending on funding and design completion.