6/19/2012
Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov
Almost 80: Cascade bridge to be replaced, vital road also refurbished
CASCADE - Replacement of the ancient North Fork Payette River Bridge in downtown Cascade and two miles of pavement resurfacing on Idaho 55 through town will begin in mid-July, the Idaho Transportation Department announced. The roadwork is expected to finish in late August, while the bridge work will extend into summer 2013.
"There may be significant impacts to drivers, both those in town and those just passing through," said Jayme Coonce, ITD project manager. "We'll make every effort to keep delays and inconveniences at a minimum, but with work of this magnitude, some level of interruption is unavoidable."
ROADWORK:
The existing roadway is in very poor condition, with cracking and potholing. The resurfacing will repair these deficiencies and extend the life of the highway section.
The project extends from milepost 114-116 (from south of the bridge to the north end). A CRABS (Cement Recycled Asphalt Base Stabilization) resurfacing method will be used on the section north and south. CRABS involves grinding the existing roadway down to the gravel base, then adding cement to the old asphalt. This process extends the life of the roadway. A complete reconstruction will be done on the section through the town's center.
Click here for a photo of the downtown section that will be resurfaced in this project.
Originally, the section of gravel road was paved over in 1937. It was reconstructed in 1955, followed by an overlay in 1975. Sealcoats were placed in 1989 and 1993. Minor widening was done in 1996.
Pedestrian ramps also will be upgraded to meet ADA standards in this project. The city of Cascade also will replace some pipes in this project.
In town, the three through lanes will be reduced to one during the roadwork portion of this project. Flaggers will be used to guide traffic, and speed limits could be reduced in the work zone. While crews are rebuilding intersections, there will be detours on the local roads and side streets in place leading to the open intersection. The open intersection will change as the project progresses. Traffic control will be coordinated with emergency services.
No parking will be allowed on Idaho 55 within the active work zone, but alternate parking will be available on the side streets.
Reasonable access to businesses will be maintained during business working hours.
No work is expected on nights or weekends, but is not prohibited if needed. From noon Friday to 7 a.m. Monday, one lane of traffic in each direction will be kept open.
In addition, no work will take place north of Patterson Street until after July 28 to accommodate the Four Summit Bike Challenge, and no work will interfere with traffic flow during the Valley County Fair (Aug. 6-11).
C & A Paving, of Boise, is the contractor on this $1.86 million project.
BRIDGE WORK:
Starting at about the same time in mid-July, a one-year project will begin that will eventually replace the old (built in 1933), narrow, width-restricted bridge with one more than twice as wide.
The existing one is 24 feet wide, and will be replaced with a 60-foot wide, 393-foot long, three-span bridge. The new bridge will have two 12-foot lanes, two 11-foot shoulders and a 14-foot median.
Click here for a photo of the bridge that will be replaced in this project.
In addition, a paved extension will be constructed to the dirt shared-use path under the bridge on the north side of the river that provides access from both sides of the bridge to the new riverside park.
In the first stage, two-thirds of the new bridge will be built to the west of the existing structure. Traffic will be maintained on the existing bridge through this first stage of bridge work, and then will be routed to the new section of bridge for the remaining work as the old bridge is demolished. There will be traffic interruptions while the new roadway section leading to the new bridge is built.
Flaggers will be used if lane restrictions are required. From Monday through Thursday, work that limits drivers to one lane in each direction is only allowed between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Two lanes will be maintained between noon Friday and noon Monday. A river safety and navigation plan will be in place for recreationalists that use this section of the river.
Wadsworth Brothers Construction Co. Inc., of Draper, Utah, is the apparent low bidder on this $4.83 million project.