11/4/2011
Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov
Southwest Idaho highway construction report for Nov. 4-11
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
I-84 drivers now have four eastbound and four westbound lanes, double the pre-construction capacity. The 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 speed limit has returned to 65 mph for the first time since construction started in late 2009.
Overhead signs will be placed later in November near the Vista Interchange, completing the project.
Concrete Placing Co. Inc., of Boise, is the contractor on the $35.9 million project.
NAMPA - I-84 widening, Franklin to Garrity
The Interstate 84 eastbound on-ramp at Nampa's Franklin Boulevard is closed. The ramp will remain closed until early 2012, when the project to widen I-84 between the Franklin and Garrity interchanges is complete.
Crews completed work ahead of schedule this week on the ramps at Nampa's Garrity Boulevard Interchange. Paving crews made faster-than-expected progress, and to avoid forecasted inclement weather, they worked later than expected Thursday so as to keep all ramps open Friday.
Overnight Sunday (Nov. 6), westbound motorists can expect nighttime lane reductions beginning at 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. Monday as crews move guardrail to safely accommodate concrete paving and equipment.
Other ongoing work includes pile driving, and building abutment and retaining walls at the bridge spanning the Phyllis Canal. Bridge girders are expected to be set later this month.
Motorists are advised to use an alternate route for eastbound interstate access, such as the Northside or Garrity interchange – each is approximately one mile from the Franklin interchange. Drivers are urged to allow extra time as they adjust to the new route.
The temporary on-ramp length and configuration is constrained by its proximity to the Phyllis Canal. However, the permanent on-ramp will have no constraints - it will extend on a new bridge over the Phyllis Canal and provide for a longer merging distance with I-84 traffic. Crews are currently working on reconstruction of the new bridge.
Motorists may experience intermittent nighttime lane reductions on I-84. All lanes remain open during the day, and work may be weather dependent.
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 farthest right lane, and exit at Garrity - never having to merge with interstate traffic.
Concrete Placing Company, of Boise, is the contractor on this $22.2 million project.
Following is an update on non-GARVEE state highway construction projects in southwest Idaho.
ADA COUNTY
Idaho 55 - Crack sealing on Eagle Road
Crews from ITD are sealing cracks in the highway on Eagle Road between Chinden Boulevard (U.S. 20/26) and State Street (Idaho 44). They started on Tuesday (Nov. 1).
Crews will work a 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. schedule to minimize traffic impacts with commuters. The project is expected to finish by Nov. 10.
Both the northbound and southbound lanes will be repaired. Only one lane at a time will close for work, and only for one-quarter to one-half mile at a time in the immediate area of the work.
ADA & GEM COUNTIES
SOUTH OF EMMETT – Idaho 16, Willow Creek Bridge replacement
Traffic has been switched to the new half (the east half) of the bridge as crews continue the replacement of the Willow Creek Bridge on Idaho 16 south of town. Crews are trying to finish the project by the end of November.
Concrete was placed for the new bridge deck last week. Crews are working on the approaches to the west half of the bridge this week.
The two-lane bridge north of Firebird Raceway on Idaho 16 is being replaced with a wider, three-lane structure. The project started June 20 and is expected to finish in late November.
Traffic will be switched to the east half of the new bridge to allow crews to demolish the western half and begin building that new section. One lane of travel each way will be maintained. The speed limit is reduced to 35 mph during construction. Width restrictions of 11 feet will remain in place.
The bridge replacement, at milepost 6.3, will result in a significantly wider bridge - 54 feet wide compared to the current 36-foot width. It also will be slightly longer - 108 feet instead of the current 90 feet. The new bridge will be a single-span structure.
In addition to replacing the bridge, built in 1959, the center lane on the new bridge will transition to match up with the current center turn lane south of the bridge, at the intersection of Chapparal Lane.
North of the bridge, the road will be tapered from three lanes to match the existing two-lane configuration.
Concrete Placing Co., of Boise, is the contractor on this $1.1 million project.
BOISE COUNTY
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. The project should be done by the end of April 2012.
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.
Traffic was switched to the smaller east side of the bridge Aug. 31, which also narrowed the roadway to 11 feet. Weather may delay placing the remainder of the bridge-deck work.
Work remains in a one-lane configuration.
Crews used a crane on Friday (Oct. 28) to place equipment down near Pier 4 to begin work again that was not completed last year due to rising water. Crews are working on Pier 5, and hoping to complete all work above the ordinary high-water level prior to Nov. 24. Crews will continue work below the ordinary high-water level from December through February.
There will still be remaining work in April of 2012, but it will not require a one-lane traffic signal control.
RSCI, of Meridian, is the contractor on the $2.8 million project.
EAST OF BOISE - Idaho 21, Robie Creek to Idaho City
Work started Wednesday (Oct. 26) on shouldering along a 17-mile stretch of Idaho 21 between Robie Creek and Idaho City, and paving and lengthening driveway approaches in that section.
This summer, that same stretch of highway was repaved. 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 was added from milepost 22 to 39.
Crews will work an 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday-Friday schedule between now and mid-December to finish the work. Crews are proceeding north toward Idaho City from the south end of the project at Robie Creek.
Traffic is being controlled by flaggers and a pilot car. Speed limit reductions will also be in effect.
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 began June 15 and will continue through early December.
The bridge is in a one-lane configuration using a traffic signal.
Crews anticipate working a Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule.
This week the contractor formed and poured the last of the abutments and also began the stream work that will eventually re-route the creek. Next week, crews will continue with the stream work, backfill the abutments and get ready to set girders.
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.
ELMORE COUNTY
EAST OF BOISE – I-84 repair
The ongoing project corrects severe pavement deficiencies between Boise and Mountain Home. Traffic has been diverted to the westbound side of I-84, with drivers in a single lane each way. Traffic will remain that way until approximately the first of December, when the project is finished.
Crews lost a few days to inclement weather, but paved concrete through last weekend to catch up. Crews shifted westbound Mayfield Interchange (milepost 71) off-ramp traffic to the new concrete section at the beginning of the project on Monday (Oct 31). Concrete paving is expected to finish by Nov 6. As weather allows, work will focus on shoulder improvements and installing guardrail.
Repaving on the Mayfield Interchange ramps was completed, and the contractor is tentatively planning to close the ramps again Oct. 30 to modify the ramp traffic route.
Concrete Placing Co., of Boise, is the contractor on this $10.4 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.
Crews finished paving the northbound lanes. Traffic will be switched onto the northbound lanes in mid- to late November. Crews are working on seeding, guardrail and bridge drainage.
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.
JC Constructors Inc., of Meridian, is the contractor for this $6.17 million project.
VALLEY COUNTY
Cascade North City Limits to Donnelly – resurfacing
The project is winding down to provide an overlay on about 15 miles of Idaho 55, from the north city limits of Cascade to Donnelly. The contractor added some aggregate to a turn-out near Little Donner Hill road so that the access for the residents would be less abrupt.
About a day or two of work on a drop inlet for highway drainage also remains. Flaggers may be needed to complete the work. The speed limit is back up to normal levels until that work occurs.
The inlet was raised Thursday (Nov. 3), with flagging operations and brief delays during the work.
This thin-lift overlay pavement preservation project from milepost 116 to 131 will add about two inches of new pavement to the existing surface.
The speed limit is 45 mph in the work area. A pilot car will be used in conjunction with flaggers at each end of the work area to hold traffic.
The new asphalt added to the traveling surface will extend the life of the roadway and provide better traction for vehicles.
Work will be done from about 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with no weekend work and the crew off the roadway by noon on Fridays to accommodate heavy recreational and tourist traffic.
Valley Paving & Asphalt Inc., of Cottonwood, is the contractor on this $2 million project.