11/18/2011
Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov
Southwest Idaho highway construction report for Nov. 18-25
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.
On Thursday night, crews set girders for a new bridge spanning the Phyllis Canal. Girders were set in a different section of this same bridge last week. Other bridge work includes pile driving, building abutments and constructing retaining walls.
Early next week, crews are scheduled to paint permanent striping on the westbound Garrity on-ramp, eastbound Garrity off-ramp and westbound Franklin off-ramp. Work is planned during daytime hours, and traffic will be shifted around the work zone. Motorists are advised to use extra caution around these confined work areas.
Overnight Tuesday (Nov. 22), eastbound I-84 traffic will be shifted to new lanes between the Phyllis Canal and the Union Pacific Railroad bridge. The traffic shift will happen between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., so that the new traffic configuration is in place by the morning commute. The new traffic pattern will allow crews to complete work on the Union Pacific Railroad bridge.
Construction will be suspended for Thanksgiving (Nov. 24). Crews will resume work the next day and continue through the weekend. Reduced speeds remain in force throughout the construction zone, even when crews are not actively working.
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 & 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.
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 late this month.
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.
Crews are installing guardrail and doing final striping this week. They still have some change-order work to complete, site clean up and final stormwater-protection devices to install.
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.
Drivers can expect minor delays with flaggers controlling traffic on Tuesday or Wednesday (Nov. 22 or 23) to switch traffic from the west side of the bridge to the east side for work at the bottom of the bridge.
Work remains in a one-lane configuration.
RSCI, of Meridian, is the contractor on the $2.8 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.
This week, the contractor poured the bridge-deck placement for Phase 2. All stream work is complete. Crews will backfill, and pave the approaches and curb early next week.
Crews anticipate working a Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule.
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.
The contractor has completed concrete paving, and is currently adding fill material to the shoulders for slope flattening, placing guardrail under the overpasses and grinding rumble strips. A few weeks remain before a potential move of eastbound traffic back to the eastbound side.
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.
Traffic control has been set up and traffic is now routed on the northbound lanes. Work will begin on the southbound bridge and lanes.
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.
This week, crews are seeding slopes, installing guardrail, striping, installing portable guardrail, and setting up traffic control for phase 2 of the project.
JC Constructors Inc., of Meridian, is the contractor for this $6.17 million project.