9/16/2011
Construction on U.S. 93 north of Challis to start Monday (Sept. 19)
RIGBY - Construction on U.S. 93 north of Challis will start Monday (Sept. 19), the Idaho Transportation Department announced.
Crews will straighten a sharp curve on U.S. 93 below Allison Creek, 25 miles north of Challis, and repair frost heaves along the route in preparation for resurfacing U.S. 93 between Cow Creek and Rattlesnake Creek (milepost 269 to 286) next year.
Work will be done Mondays through Thursdays and will include drilling and blasting rock on the shoulder of the curve (milepost 272). Plans call for blasting twice a week for three weeks at approximately 2 p.m. Motorists should expect 30-minute delays as workers shoot charges and clean rock and debris from the roadway.
Workers will stop traffic to clear the blast zone, prepare for blasting and complete any cleanup needed to reopen the road.
During construction, travel along stretches of frost-heave repairs will be reduced to one lane, with flaggers directing traffic through the work zones. Both lanes will be open to traffic when workers are not present. Drivers can expect gravel surfaces until paving.
Motorists should watch for flaggers and other construction workers, and anticipate trucks entering and exiting the highway. The project is scheduled for completion Oct. 14.
For more up-to-date information on blasting dates, direct questions to Maintenance Operations Engineer Ken Hahn at (208) 745-5640 or Engineer Tracy Bono at (208) 851-0786.