5/16/2014
Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov
Southwest Idaho highway construction report for May 16-23
The following projects in southwest Idaho are now underway:
ADA COUNTY
Meridian, Broadway and Gowen interchange reconstructions (GARVEE)
Three major Treasure Valley interchanges are being reconstructed, as the Meridian, Broadway and Gowen structures get a facelift after nearly five decades, thanks to GARVEE. Work is expected to be complete by late fall 2015.
The current Broadway interchange was built in 1969 when approximately 8,850 vehicles traveled on Interstate 84 near Broadway Avenue. Today, 74,000 vehicles travel over, under, and on and off the Broadway interchange each day. Gowen interchange, also built in 1969, went from 5,650 vehicles on the interstate to 47,000 daily. Those numbers are expected to reach 149,000 (Broadway) and 127,000 (Gowen) by 2035.
The Meridian interchange has seen the most explosive growth, from a daily intersection total of 10,650 in 1966 (it was built in 1965) to 133,000 today.
In addition to reconstructing the interchanges, work will include widening I-84 under the Meridian interchange and adding a third lane in each direction between the Broadway and Gowen interchanges. Gowen Road also will be widened between S. Eisenman Road and Federal Way. The railroad bridges between Broadway and Gowen will be replaced and widened to make room for additional lanes.
A Single Point Urban Interchange (SPUI) design, similar to the structures at Ten Mile and Vista, will be used in the reconstruction of the Meridian Road Interchange. The new Broadway interchange also will be a SPUI design. A conventional diamond interchange will replace the current interchange at Gowen Road.
Projects were selected based on readiness, pavement condition, congestion and safety. The work will be funded with savings from GARVEE, as well as regular federal funds.
GARVEE has resulted in significant safety improvements on Idaho's highways - crashes have been reduced by 38 percent, serious injuries by 51 percent and fatalities by 89 percent in corridors after GARVEE projects have been completed, despite nearly 46 million more miles driven.
I-84, Broadway Avenue Interchange
Construction is underway on the Broadway interchange in east Boise. ITD will add turn lanes on Broadway Avenue, replace the bridge and ramps, and add a third lane to I-84 between the Broadway and Gowen interchanges. The project is expected to be completed by late 2015.
Crews will pour the first part of the new bridge deck next week. They also will set posts for a new section of soundwall near Broadway Avenue. Work will continue on the retaining wall, bridge piers and interchange ramps.
Drivers can expect overnight lane restrictions on I-84 from 8:30 p.m. to 5 a.m. weekdays. Restrictions will continue until 7 a.m. weekend mornings. The speed limit is 55 mph on I-84 and 25 mph on Broadway Avenue in the work zone.
Concrete Placing Company, of Boise, is the contractor on the $26.7 million project.
I-84, Gowen Road Interchange
Construction is underway at the Gowen interchange in east Boise. ITD will widen Gowen Road to five lanes, replace the bridge and ramps, improve turn lanes in the area, and add a third lane to I-84 between the Broadway and Gowen interchanges. The project is expected to be completed by late 2015.
A series of traffic shifts will begin next week on I-84 between the Broadway and Gowen interchanges. Traffic will be shifted into new lanes every day from Monday through Friday (May 19-24). Shifting traffic will allow crews to pave new lanes on the interstate.
The contractor is paving the inside “new” lanes and shoulder. Crews will be working on this for the next week. Guardrail is being installed. They also are working on the inside widening of the eastbound railroad bridge near Gowen.
Overnight lane restrictions will continue on I-84 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. on weekdays. Restrictions will continue until 7 a.m. weekend mornings.
The speed limit is 55 mph on I-84 in the work zone.
Knife River Corporation, of Boise, is the contractor on the $27 million project.
I-84, Meridian Road Interchange
Construction is underway to replace the Meridian Interchange and improve I-84 between Meridian and Five Mile roads. Meridian Road will be widened to three through lanes in each direction between Central Drive and Overland Road with curb, gutter, sidewalks and bicycle lanes. The improved interchange will include dual left-turn lanes for each I-84 on-ramp and a central traffic signal.
On I-84 between Meridian and Five Mile roads, the outside lanes and shoulders will be rebuilt, the inside lanes improved, and the storm-drain system in the median replaced. I-84 will be widened four lanes in both directions under the interchange.
Construction crews will be grinding pavement on I-84 between Meridian and Five Mile roads next week. The work is part of the process of preparing I-84 for new pavement. Drivers can expect overnight lane closures, speed-limit reductions and increased noise during the pavement grinding. All lanes will be open during the day. Overnight work hours are from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. during the week, and 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. on weekends.
At the interchange, crews will continue building the pier and abutment for the west half of the bridge, and building embankments for the westbound on- and off-ramps.
Crews are working both day and night. I-84 will be reduced to two lanes at night (10 p.m. to 5 a.m. during the week, and 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. on weekends). Please watch for speed-limit reductions in the work zone.
Concrete Placing Company, of Boise, is the contractor on the $50.8 million project.
ADA COUNTY
BOISE - Idaho 16 Extension, river crossing and local road connections (GARVEE)
Construction crews are building the road section on the north side of U.S. 20/26 near the Idaho 16 extension in preparation for paving in early June. They also continue to fill potholes along U.S. 20/26 and sweep the roadway to promote safe conditions for the traveling public. Intermittent traffic shifts will occur if needed for these activities. Concrete barricades separate traffic from most construction activities and flaggers will help direct traffic as necessary.
All east- and westbound Idaho 44 traffic lanes near the Idaho 16 intersection are open, including turn lanes for northbound Idaho 16. Road sweeping is being done in this area of the project as well. Final paving on Idaho 44 and Idaho 16 will occur in late May. During paving, motorists can expect all lanes to remain open with traffic shifts on Idaho 44 and traffic reduced to one lane on Idaho 16, with flaggers controlling alternating traffic.
All construction schedules are subject to change due to weather. The speed limit in the construction areas are 45 mph. Motorists are strongly encouraged to drive with caution through construction zones.
The 2.5-mile extension of Idaho 16 over the Boise River, from Idaho 44 to U.S. 20/26 (Chinden Boulevard) will not be open to traffic until full project completion.
Concrete Placing Co., of Boise, and Idaho Sand & Gravel, of Nampa, are the prime contractors on these projects. Knife River Const., of Boise and Nampa Paving are two of the main sub-contractors for this work. The total construction cost is $38.94 million.
BOISE COUNTY
GARDEN VALLEY - South Fork Payette River Bridge
Crews are working to replace the Alder Creek Bridge or Silver Bridge over the south fork of the Payette River southwest of Garden Valley.
The old bridge has been removed. Construction on the other half of the bridge is underway. Work is expected to finish in mid- to late summer.
Work continues on the bridge deck, and traffic is moving just in one direction. Work still to be completed in the near future includes road grading, guardrail work, seeding, and installation of curb and gutter.
Boise County is the local sponsor.
Ralph L. Wadsworth Construction Company Inc., of Draper, Utah, is the contractor on this $2.3 million project.
This is an LHTAC (Local Highway Technical Assistance Council) project. ITD has oversight responsibility for this work.
WASHINGTON COUNTY
WEISER - Bridge overlay
?The newly rebuilt Weiser River Bridge, south of Weiser on U.S. 95, will receive an epoxy overlay beginning Monday (May 19) to protect the new driving surface. The overlay is expected to finish before Memorial Day Weekend.
Crews will work each day from 5 a.m.-7 p.m., keeping one lane open in each direction throughout the project. They will apply the epoxy on one-third of the bridge deck at a time and shift one lane of traffic into the center median.
The $4.8 million project to replace the aging bridge began in March 2013. This is the final piece of that project.
VALLEY COUNTY
CASCADE – Bridge Replacement
Replacement of the North Fork Payette River Bridge in downtown Cascade has resumed.
The old, narrow, width-restricted bridge was replaced with one more than twice as wide. The earlier bridge was 24 feet wide, and was replaced with a 60-foot wide, 393-foot long, three-span bridge. The new bridge has two 12-foot lanes, two 11-foot shoulders and a 14-foot median.
In addition, a paved extension to the dirt shared-use path under the bridge on the north side of the river was built to provide access from both sides of the bridge to the new riverside park.
Remaining work will repair a small section of pavement at the end of the project.
Wadsworth Brothers Construction Co. Inc., of Draper, Utah, is the contractor on this $4.83 million project.
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There are several other projects due to begin this spring or summer:
Idaho 21, Lucky Peak High Bridge to Robie Creek Road resurfacing
A 4.7-mile (milepost 17.3-22) piece of two-lane road from the High Bridge, at the turn to Spring Shores Marina, to the turn at Robie Creek Road, will be resurfaced in a CRABS project. The work also will include repairs to the existing drainage system, some roadway widening, and replacement of substandard guardrail. This project is likely to start in June. Idaho Sand & Gravel, of Nampa, is the contractor on this $1.8 million project.
Idaho 21, Idaho City to Mores Creek Summit resurfacing
This is a 13.3-mile pavement-rehabilitation project from Idaho City, at the ITD maintenance shed, to the Mores Creek Summit. Crews will conduct pavement repairs, fix frost heaves and improve drainage. They also will mill the surface, trench across and along the road at various locations, seal cracks in the pavement surface and apply a seal coat to the new surface. This project is likely to start in June. Knife River Corp. Northwest, of Boise, is the contractor on this $1.6 million project.
Idaho 52, Railroad Overpass Replacement, Payette
This project, likely to begin in late June or early July, will rehabilitate and resurface the railroad overpass on Idaho 52 in Payette. The bridge-deck surface is potholed, with worn bridge joints. Crews will rehabilitate the deck of the overpass, built in 1962, to create a better driving surface, remove lead paint and repaint the railing. Braun-Jensen Inc., of Payette, is the contractor on this $1.3 million project.
Idaho 55, Eagle Rd., I-84 to Franklin southbound, Meridian
This project will widen Eagle Road to add a third southbound lane from Franklin Road to the I-84 westbound on-ramp, resulting in a lane dedicated to the ramp turn. The additional lane will be the standard 12 feet wide, and it also will include new curb and gutter, as well as connecting the missing sidewalk pieces. The traffic signal also will be replaced. Two lanes will be maintained during construction. Crews are replacing the light at St. Luke’s to accommodate another left-turn lane going southbound onto Eagle Road from the hospital, but the light at the Franklin Road intersection will remain unchanged. The project advanced to PS&E (Plans, Specifications and Estimates), the final fact-checking phase before the project is advertised to potential contractors.
Idaho 55, Lardo Bridge replacement, McCall
The 83-year-old Lardo Bridge on Idaho 55 near the Rotary Park on the southwest shore of Payette Lake is scheduled to be replaced this fall, with some preliminary construction starting in May. When completed, the project will replace roadway approaches to the bridge and provide bicycle and pedestrian facilities on both sides of the bridge. The new bridge will be 200 feet long and 50 feet wide. Ralph L. Wadsworth Construction and Lochner was selected by ITD as the design-build firm for the upcoming $3.64 million project. A “Meet the Contractor” meeting was held May 13.
I-84, Oregon State Line to Black Canyon Interchange (Exit 13), east- and westbound
Beginning before mid-June, crews will mill out about three inches of pavement in the right lanes and replace it with new asphalt. Both lanes and shoulders will then be overlaid with about two inches of asphalt. The ramps at Exit 3 (Fruitland) and at Exit 9 (New Plymouth) also will be overlaid. Crossovers will be built at both ends of the project to move traffic off the freeway surface to enable repairs. Western Construction, of Boise, is the contractor on this $9.6 million project.
I-84, UPRR E. Lateral Canal Bridge & Northside Blvd. Underpass, Nampa
The aging Union Pacific Railroad E. Lateral Canal Bridge and the Northside Boulevard Overpass with Interstate 84 at Exit 35 will be improved in this six-month project. The bridge decks on the westbound UPRR bridge and the eastbound Northside structure will be replaced, while decks on the eastbound UPRR bridge and westbound Northside will be repaired and sealed. Weather permitting, construction is scheduled to begin May 27. Granite Construction Co. is the contractor on this $4 million project.
U.S. 95, Creek Bridge Replacement, Washington County
The project, likely to begin in July or August, will replace the old short-span Creek Bridge on U.S. 95 about seven miles north of Cambridge. The Creek Bridge, at milepost 120.6, is the oldest structure on the state highway system, built in 1918. The bridge is in poor condition. The existing bridge, which is 14 feet in length and 34 feet wide, will be replaced by a pipe culvert with a 72-inch diameter measuring 56 feet in length. Knife River Construction Northwest, of Boise, is the contractor on this $350,000 project.
U.S. 95, Trail Creek Bridge to Pinehurst, Adams County
A brief project on U.S. 95 in Adams County between the Trail Creek Bridge and Pinehurst is slated to begin in June and finish a few months later. This area of the highway is bordered on one side by the Little Salmon River. The project will address retaining-wall instability and add stream barbs to protect the roadway embankment at three locations in this 4.7-mile stretch. Stream barbs are rock structures extending into a stream to modify flow patterns. They are commonly used to minimize erosion by steering the fastest current away from the eroding bank. Crews will then replace the roadway pavement removed to fix the walls and slope.The project also will include about 900 feet of guardrail repair. Debco Construction, of Orofino, is the contractor on this $762,000 project.
U.S. 95/Idaho 55 Overlays and U.S. 95, Alpine Store to Council
This 40-mile pavement preventative-maintenance project on U.S. 95 and Idaho 55 will likely start around mid-June. The project will involve milling off a few inches of the old roadway surface in locations to prepare for a new driving surface, performing some soft-spot repairs, some guardrail and delineation repair and installation, and the excavation for and installation of trench drain in specific areas along the highway. This is primarily an overlay project. Knife River Corp. Northwest, of Boise, is the contractor on this $6.7 million project.