8/23/2012
Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov
Southwest Idaho highway construction report for Aug. 24-31
BOISE - The following projects in southwest Idaho are under way.
ADA COUNTY
BOISE - Idaho 16 Extension
Work is under way for the first phase of the extension of Idaho 16, which will be complete in August 2014.
Crews will connect State Street to Chinden Boulevard, including a new bridge over the Boise River.
Crews are driving test piles at the north end of the new bridge, installing irrigation and building access roads.
Concrete Placing Co. Inc., of Boise, is the contractor on this $19.4 million project.
ADA COUNTY
BOISE - Idaho 16, Phyllis Canal Bridge and South Segment
This project extends Idaho 16 from U.S. 20/26 (at McDermott Road) to Joplin Road, where it ties in to the new Idaho 16 Boise River Bridge project.
Work is expected to begin soon on the first phase of the project, to demolish two existing structures that clear the way for the new roadway alignment. These are two houses (already abandoned and cleared) that are in the way of the new alignment. One is on Joplin Road and the other is on Idaho 16, about one-quarter mile north of the Idaho 16/44 intersection.
Almost all work will be restricted to daylight hours, with the exception of activities like hauling bridge girders.
The overall completion date is in August 2014.
Concrete Placing Co Inc. is the contractor on this $10.8 million project.
ADA COUNTY
BOISE – Connector resurfacing
A preventative maintenance project began July 29 on the Connector (I-184) in Boise, heading westbound. Work is expected to be finished by mid-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.
Crews finished grinding the outbound (westbound) direction and they will begin grinding the inbound lanes starting at the Flying Wye. Grinding crews will continue to work Sunday night through Thursday night, 10 p.m.-5 a.m.
This week, joint-sealing crews started working on the newly ground surface in the outbound direction. In addition to the above hours this week, the joint sealing crew will also work Friday (Aug. 24) and Saturday night from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
There are now traffic control work zones in both the outbound and inbound directions.
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.
ITD is in the process of constructing the second phase of improvements from River Valley Street to Chinden Boulevard.
Over the next few weeks, crews will be milling and repaving the northbound lanes of Eagle Road in the construction area. Construction work is done at night between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.
• At night, all traffic in the construction area will be moved to the southbound side of Eagle Road.
• One lane will remain open in each direction.
• Flaggers will direct traffic and help drivers find alternate routes to their homes and businesses.
At nighttime only, access will be limited to neighborhoods and businesses along Eagle Road between River Valley Street and Chinden Boulevard. Please use alternate routes to avoid Eagle Road during the nighttime lane closures if you live in the area.
Construction in this phase will be completed by 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.
The contractor has completing all work on the Canyon Creek overpass at milepost 92, 18th Street overpass at milepost 94, Hwy 95 Interchange at U.S. 20, the Oregon Trail Interchange at milepost 99, and Hammett Interchange at milepost 112.
The Mayfield Interchange bridge at milepost 71 on I-84 will be closed overnight to allow the bridge deck to be jacked up and shimmed. While jacking the superstructure, I-84 will be reduced to a single lane and traffic diverted around using the on- and off-ramps. Flaggers will be used to assure smooth traffic flow.
The superstructure will be shimmed up, (approximately three-quarters inch) for up to a week to allow repair work on the substructure.
Full use of the interchange will continue and travelers will not notice any affects except during the actual jacking operations.
There will be no work until after Labor Day. Crews anticipate work completion around Oct. 8, Columbus Day.
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 under this contract, their ages and the work is detailed below:
• The east- and westbound U.S. 20 Interchange at Exit 95 (1971) – This work involved 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 involved 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 received an epoxy overlay (deck seal).
• The Mayfield Interchange bridge east of Boise at Exit 71 (1960) – This work involved 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 involved removing and replacing the deck concrete and replacing expansion joints.
• The 18th Street underpass in Mountain Home at milepost 94 (1971) – This work involved 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.
ADA, ELMORE AND PAYETTE COUNTIES
Seal coats
The seal coat of Interstate 84 from Gowen (Exit 57) to Eisenman (Exit 60), including the ramps at the Eisenman Road Interchange overpass east of Boise, began Thursday (Aug. 23) and will last for several days. This will require lane closures and reduced speeds along the interstate as well as alternating closure of the interchange ramps at Eisenman.
The work will extend the life of the road and provide greater traction for motorists.??Crews plan to begin work Thursday morning, after the morning commute, applying oil and rock chips. That work is done during the day to allow heat to help asphalt and rock bond more quickly to the roadway surface, providing a higher-quality finished product.
The highway is then rolled and traffic allowed on to the roadway to help pack the surface before "brooming" or sweeping to remove excess gravel.
A properly applied seal coat can add several years of service to a heavily traveled roadway by sealing the surface and adding roughness for winter traction.
The speed limit will be reduced to 45 mph in the work zone, and motorists should expect delays of up to 15 minutes. Flaggers and pilot cars will be used as needed.
This is just one of multiple seal coats under a $2.82 million contract with Sierra Nevada Construction of Sparks, Nev. All seal coats are expected to finish by late September.
Seal coats have already been completed on these highways:
• Idaho 69, Orchard Ave. in Kuna to I-84 ramps in Meridian
• U.S. 30, through New Plymouth from the junction of U.S. 30 and U.S. 95 on the west side of town (between New Plymouth and Fruitland) to the junction of U.S. 30 and Idaho 72 on the south end of town
• Idaho 21, Gowen Interchange (Exit 54) to Lucky Peak Reservoir Bridge
Work is under way or still to come on these sections:
• U.S. 20, Mountain Home city limits to Boise National Forest boundary (started yesterday, Aug. 20)
• I-84B, American Legion Blvd. between Canyon Creek and 18th Street (Exit 94) overpasses, Mountain Home (starts approx. Aug. 24)
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 due to begin when the contractor finishes work on Idaho 55 near Banks.
Installation of pipe-liner and trench drains is complete. No other work is expected until mid-August.
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.
Guardrail removal began Thursday (Aug. 23), and milling will begin Monday.
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 runs 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.
The contractor has been working on paving approaches and turnouts, along with reinstalling guardrail. Next week, work will center on installation of asphalt curbing and rumble strips. Pavement markings are expected just after Labor Day. Drivers should expect both day and night operations.
Valley Paving & Asphalt Inc., of Cottonwood, Idaho, is the contractor on this $2.15 million project.
BOISE COUNTY
Idaho 21 resurfacing to Lowman
A resurfacing project covering 20.4 miles of Idaho 21 in Boise County gets under way Monday (Aug. 6) and will finish in October 2013.
The project runs from Mores Creek Summit to Clear Creek Bridge below Lowman, adding a Stress-Absorbing Fiberglass Layer with Emulsified Asphalt (SAFLEA) on two adjoining sections of Idaho 21 (milepost 52.3 to 60 and 60 to 72.7), conducting slope stabilization, and upgrading guardrail at existing locations.
A SAFLEA treatment is a seal coat with a coating of chopped glass fibers between the oil and gravel aggregates to enhance durability and reduce cracking.
One lane of travel will remain open, with flaggers and pilot cars helping to guide traffic. Crews will work a 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule Monday-Thursday and will work half days on Fridays. No work is allowed on the weekends.
The contractor is installing trench drains and has reduced two highway lanes to one, with traffic controlled by flaggers.
Traffic has increased because of the situation with the fire and rock fall on Idaho 55 and the fire on old Highway 17.
Knife River Corp, of Boise, is the contractor on this $3.9 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 under way.
Some ramps and lanes will be closed during the work. Crews will cone off the affected areas.
The I-84 Boise River bridges will have a reduced speed limit (55 mph) and width restriction (16 feet). One lane of traffic will be open east and west.
I-84, over the Boise River at Caldwell, will be restricted to one lane east- and westbound through the end of next week. The Exit 27 westbound on-ramp and the eastbound off ramp are both closed.
The Black Canyon Bridge, over I-84 at Exit 13, will be reduced to one-way traffic controlled by traffic signals starting at 6 p.m. on Sunday (Aug. 26), and returning to a normal traffic pattern around Sept. 21.
Crews initially will use hydro-demolition (a high-pressure water stream) to remove the top few inches of damaged surface on the old bridge deck.
This bridge closure will affect I-84 also by reducing the freeway to one lane with a 55- mph speed limit in the project area.
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 Parma-Wilder 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 is wrapping up from the north side of Parma to the junction with Interstate 84.
The contractor finished installing special pavement markings north of Parma this week. Roadway striping of the first application for both projects has been completed. The contractor will return approximately 30 days from now to apply the final application.
Some work is left to be completed in Wilder.
The speed limit in the active construction zone is reduced to 45 mph. The speed limit is raised to 55 mph each evening.
Idaho Sand & Gravel Co., of Nampa, is the contractor on this $5.7 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 wrapping up.
About 260 feet of guardrail remain to be installed starting Friday (Aug. 24). Crews will repaint the traffic lines to complete the project.
Approximately a month after completion of the work, a second coat of paint will be applied to the pavement markings.
Central Paving Co. Inc., of Boise, is the contractor on this $2.5 million project.
OWYHEE COUNTY
NEAR GRASMERE – Idaho 51 resurfacing
Work is under way 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. Work is expected to finish in 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.
There are no more traffic restrictions from Sheep Creek Road to Tindal Road, except a mobile operation in mid-September as the contractor applies the second round of pavement markings.
Snake River Construction, of Twin Falls, is the prime contractor on this $1.6 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 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.
The bridge deck is complete, with some work to finish under the bridge. Roadwork north and south of the bridge in the southbound lanes is in progress. Paving has been completed. Striping and guardrail will be completed this month.
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: This week, the contractor finished work on the last ADA pedestrian ramp, continued work on drainage improvements, striped the project and cleaned up the pavement shoulders. Next week, work will continue on drainage and sign upgrades. Traffic impacts should be minimal. At times, crews may control traffic with flaggers to allow a concrete truck to offload.
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.
C & A Paving, of Boise, is the contractor on this $1.86 million project.
BRIDGE WORK: This 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.
Crews broke ground this week by removing trees and beginning road widening on the northwest end of the project. They also bored new water and sewer lines under the river. Next week, crews will begin building the work pad in the river. There are no traffic impacts at this time.
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 contractor on this $4.83 million project.