7/13/2012
Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov
Southwest Idaho highway construction report for July 13-20
BOISE - The following projects in southwest Idaho are now under way or will begin soon.
ADA COUNTY
BOISE - Idaho 16 Extension
Work is under way for the first phase of the extension of Idaho 16. Crews are working on clearing the site and constructing temporary drainage and irrigation structures.
Crews will connect State Street to Chinden Boulevard, including a new bridge over the Boise River.
Concrete Placing Co. Inc., of Boise, is the contractor on this $19.4 million project.
ADA COUNTY
BOISE – Connector resurfacing
A preventative maintenance project is scheduled to begin July 23 on the Connector (I-184) in Boise. Work is expected to be finished by late September.
For about five miles, from the Flying Wye to 13th Street, crews will re-seal joints and grind off the concrete surface to increase skid resistance.
Crews will adhere to a 10 p.m.-to-5 a.m. schedule, working overnight in order to minimize traffic interference.
Work will not be allowed on the nights of Boise State University home football games, and weekend work is not expected but is not prohibited if necessary.
A temporary closure of the ramps will be necessary for the contractor to properly grind and re-seal in those areas.
At least one lane will be maintained during the work, with the speed limit reduced to 45 mph in the construction zone.
Penhall Corporation, of Anaheim, Calif., is the contractor on this $919, 000 project.
ADA COUNTY
MERIDIAN - Eagle Road resurfacing and medians
Work started June 10 on this project, which will resurface Idaho 55 from Fairview Avenue in Meridian to State Street in Eagle, and install raised medians from Franklin to Oakhampton Drive, one-half mile north of Chinden Boulevard.
Crews will install raised medians between Franklin Road and River Valley Street, an area of 1.5 miles.
The work will take place overnight between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. Access to businesses and residences will be kept open except for brief closures when crews are paving right at those approaches or driveways.
These improvements will be completed by end of July. Crews are also installing 11 new pedestrian sidewalk ramps in this section, 90 overall in the entire project.
Crews continue to work between Franklin Road and Fairview Avenue. Work includes:
· Constructing concrete medians
· Installing new pedestrian sidewalk ramps
· Paving from Fairview Avenue to River Valley Street
Construction of this first phase will be completed by late July.
ITD expects to begin preliminary work on Phase Two, from River Valley Street to Oakhampton Drive, the week of July 15. It will last until late September.
Idaho Sand & Gravel Co., of Nampa, is the contractor on this $4.7 million project.
ADA, ELMORE COUNTY
Repair of seven bridge decks in Ada and Elmore counties
The bridge decks on seven bridges from Boise through Mountain Home and to the east will be repaired and resurfaced in a project expected to finish by Labor Day.
The two structures currently being worked on - Canyon Creek Interchange at milepost 92.37 and Hammett Interchange at milepost 112 - should be completed and returned to normal traffic operations by July 25.
By approximately July 30, the focus will be on the last remaining structure under this contract - the Mayfield Interchange structure at milepost 71.
This structure will require some nighttime bridge closures for jacking the superstructure up to replace bearing pads and repairs to pier caps and girders, followed later with traffic reduced to a single lane and temporary signals to resurface the deck and replace joints.
The bridges, their ages and the work is detailed below:
• The east- and westbound U.S. 20 Interchange at Exit 95 (1971) – This work involves removing and replacing the deck concrete, replacing expansion joints, and injecting filler in cracks in the abutments and wing walls.
• The East Mountain Home/Oregon Trail Interchange at milepost 99 (1972) - This work involves removing and replacing concrete, replacing expansion joints, and injecting filler in cracks in the piers and wing walls.
• The Eisenman Interchange bridge at Exit 60 (1997) – The bridge deck will receive an epoxy overlay (deck seal).
• The Mayfield Interchange bridge east of Boise at Exit 71 (1960) – This work involves removing and replacing the deck concrete, replacing bearing pads on the piers and replacing the expansion joints.
• The Canyon Creek underpass in Mountain Home at milepost 92 (1971) – This work involves removing and replacing the deck concrete and replacing expansion joints.
• The 18th Street underpass in Mountain Home at milepost 94 (1971) – This work involves removing and replacing the deck concrete, replacing expansion joints, and injecting filler in the cracks in pier walls.
• The Hammett Interchange bridge at milepost 112 (1973) – This work involves removing and replacing concrete, replacing expansion joints, and injecting filler in cracks in the piers and wing walls.
Concrete Placing Co. Inc., of Boise, is the apparent low bidder on the $1.72 million repairs.
ADAMS, IDAHO COUNTY
U.S. 95 resurfacing Smokey Boulder – Hazard Creek
A five-and-a half-mile (milepost 171-176.5) pavement rehabilitation project on a stretch of U.S. 95 that wanders through Adams and Idaho counties as it heads north is under way and is due to finish by Labor Day.
Crews began this week setting up for the project. Traffic impacts are expected to begin on Monday (July 16). Initially, the contractor will be working on installing trench drains.
One open lane will be maintained from Smokey Boulder Road to Hazard Creek during the two-month-long project. Flaggers and traffic cones will be used to guide motorists. Pilot cars will guide traffic during pavement pulverization and paving.
There are no traffic interruptions expected in the first week of the project but they will begin the following week as crews begin work trenching for pipes.
Valley Paving & Asphalt Inc., of Cottonwood, Idaho, is the contractor on this $1.8 million project.
BOISE COUNTY
BANKS – Resurfacing
A 10.4-mile resurfacing project on Idaho 55 north of Banks is slated to begin soon and finish by early fall.
The thin-lift overlay pavement-preservation project, from milepost 80.6 to the Boise National Forest boundary (milepost 91), will involve overnight work (7 p.m. to 6 a.m.) for the paving.
Occasional daytime work will be needed for paving approaches and turnouts, applying rumble strips and pavement markings near the project's completion.
Pilot cars and flaggers will be used as needed. No work on the weekends is anticipated, except on Sunday nights.
Some preliminary work near Banks to realign a half-mile section further toward the river is under way, and is expected to finish within the next week.
Valley Paving & Asphalt Inc., of Cottonwood, Idaho, is the contractor on this $2.15 million project.
CANYON, PAYETTE COUNTIES
I-84 bridge repairs
A project rehabilitating three bridge decks in the Caldwell area at Centennial Way, Exit 27 and the Boise River crossing, and the bridge deck at Exit 13 at Black Canyon, is expected to begin July 26.
Some ramps and lanes will be closed during the work. Crews will cone off the affected areas.
Concrete Placing Co. Inc., of Boise, is the contractor on this $1.42 million project, which is expected to finish by late October.
CANYON COUNTY
U.S. 95 Wilder-Parma-I-84 resurfacing
Paving on a stretch of U.S. 95 from the south city limits of Wilder to the south city limits of Parma is complete, and resurfacing work will begin July 19 from the north side of Parma to the junction with Interstate 84. This will finish in mid-August.
• 13.2 miles of U.S. 95, from Parma north city limits to Jct. I-84
• 1.6 miles of U.S. 20/26, from Snake River Bridge to Jct. U.S. 95
In two-lane sections, at least one lane will remain open at all times. In three- or four-lane segments, at least two lanes will remain open.
Work on nights or weekends is not expected, but is not prohibited if needed.
Idaho Sand & Gravel Co., of Nampa, is the contractor on this $5.7 million project.
ELMORE COUNTY
I-84 repair, Mountain Home to Hammett
A 25-mile pavement maintenance and repair project on Interstate 84 from Mountain Home east to Hammett is wrapping up and should finish by July 20.
Crews are working a Monday-Friday schedule unless Saturday work is needed to stay on schedule.??The project, on both sides of the highway, involves the replacement of several joint seals, extensive crack sealing and the replacement of deteriorated concrete slabs. It also involves the application of sealant to highway shoulders to protect the surface against weather and water damage and prevent additional cracking.
Typically one lane will be closed in the immediate project area, which will be limited to about a half-mile at a time. In some areas of slab replacement, lanes will remain closed longer. The lane closures will vary in length based on the contractor’s progress.
Crews are sawing and re-sealing joints. With advanced notice to the project inspector via ITD's Ports of Entry, wider loads of up to 16 feet may be able to pass through.
During daylight hours when workers are present and lane closures are in effect, the speed limit will be reduced to 55 or 65 mph. The posted speed will return to 75 mph when work is not being conducted (nights and weekends).
A-Core of Idaho, of Boise, is the contractor on the $2.54 million project.
GEM COUNTY
EMMETT - Idaho 16, SH 44 to Substation Road
A road, bridge and guardrail-repair project for a 12.5–mile stretch of Idaho 16 from just north of its junction with Idaho 44 to Emmett’s Substation Road is under way. The project is expected to finish in late July.
Crews will work an overnight schedule. The contractor plans to work Monday through Thursday nights on paving, with some non-paving work occurring during the day (8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.) as necessary.
Occasional lane closures may occur during daytime hours, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Work to repave approaches to county and private roads and private approaches will occurr on Sunday evening from 5 p.m. Sunday evening (July 1) to 6 a.m. Monday morning. Lane closures will be in effect, with expected delays of up to 15 minutes.
Work will be completed in Phase Two, between milepost 4.25 and 8.25, and will begin in Phase Three, between milepost 8.25 and Substation Road in Emmett on Monday, July 2.
As work is completed, the contractor will reduce the overall length of the work zone behind them.
Aside from morning and evening rush-hour commutes, traffic will be limited to one lane, with a speed-limit reduction. The speed limit will be reduced by 10 mph in the work-zone segment.
The section of road was built in 1959 and 1966. An overlay was performed in 1996 on the first nine miles, followed by a CRABS (Cement Recycled Asphalt Base Stabilization) resurfacing project in 1998 on the northern end.
When crews transition to repair work on the Black Canyon Irrigation Canal bridge, a lane closure will be required for 13 calendar days, with a temporary signal used to guide traffic.
Work on the bridge, located at approximately milepost 12, will include waterproofing, sealing and replacing joints, and removing and replacing portions of the concrete deck. Approaches to the bridge and transitions to surrounding roads will be adjusted to match the new grade of the road. Crews also are replacing 8,500 feet of substandard guardrail throughout the project.
The contractor has completed removal of substandard guardrail for replacement and is currently removing asphalt curb. Crews are also removing the asphalt overlay over the Black Canyon Irrigation Canal Bridge.
All of this work is being done during the daytime under temporary lane closures.
Crews will be repairing spalls along the expansion joints and preparing the surface for installation of a waterproofing membrane and installing new expansion joint-sealant materials. During morning and evening commutes, traffic will be controlled by flaggers to ensure smooth traffic flows.
Central Paving Co. Inc., of Boise, is the contractor on this $2.5 million project.
OWYHEE COUNTY
NEAR GRASMERE – Idaho 51 resurfacing
Work will begin on a double seal coat, replacement of an old cattleguard and upgrading of guardrail ends on a 14-mile stretch of Idaho 51 through Owyhee County starting July 16 and continuing through mid-September.
The work begins at Sheep Creek Road (milepost 19.9), which is about eight miles north of the Duck Valley Indian Reservation boundary, continues through Tindal Road and wraps up at milepost 33.7, which is a little more than a mile north of Grasmere.
Motorists can expect lane closures, with flaggers and a pilot car. One open lane will be maintained during the work. The speed limit will be reduced to 35 mph in the project construction zone.
Crews will work a Monday-Friday schedule, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Snake River Construction, of Twin Falls, is the prime contractor on this $1.6 million project.
PAYETTE COUNTY
FRUITLAND – U.S. 95/I-84 Exit 3 Overpass repair
Work is under way to resurface and repair the half-century-old U.S. 95 interchange overpass spanning I-84 at Exit 3 near Fruitland. The project is expected to finish in June.
The bridge deck and foundation for this bridge are considered to be in fair condition, with the superstructure in good condition.
The concrete deck will be overlayed and pier caps and columns patched in this project to extend the life of the bridge, built in 1960. The bridge railing will also be replaced.
Asphalt paving work will be performed to tie the bridge approaches into the road on each end of the bridge.
The overlay for the bridge has been completed. Work south of the bridge and on the approaches at each end began Wednesday (July 11), with overlay and paving on those sections slated for July 12-17. Repair on the columns, piers and girders also continues.
Cannon Builders Inc., of Blackfoot, is the contractor for this $763,000 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 finish in mid-September 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.
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.
Work on the bridge deck is complete. Crews are stripping forms under the deck. Roadwork north and south of the bridge in the southbound lanes continues, with paving scheduled to begin July 23.
JC Constructors Inc., of Meridian, is the contractor for this $6.17 million project.
VALLEY COUNTY
CASCADE – Bridge and Roadwork
A replacement of the North Fork Payette River Bridge in downtown Cascade is now under way, with two miles of pavement resurfacing on Idaho 55 in town to begin a few weeks later. The roadwork is expected to finish in late August, while the bridge work will extend into summer 2013.
ROADWORK: Crews removed surface plantmix, began excavation and rebuild of the roadway and started on pipe replacement and pedestrian ramps. A test strip to ensure paving quality is tentatively slated for July 19.
Traffic is down to one lane in each direction with flaggers.
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.
Originally, the section of gravel road was paved over in 1937. It was reconstructed in 1955, followed by an overlay in 1975. Seal coats 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 an 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: Also Beginning this summer, 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 bridge 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.
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 recreationists 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.