6/23/2014
Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov
Traffic shift impacts drivers on I-84 at Nampa's Northside Boulevard
NAMPA - Last night (Sunday, June 22), eastbound Interstate 84 traffic at Northside Boulevard (Exit 35) in Nampa shifted to a temporary construction configuration as crews begin reconstruction of the aging Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) and Northside Boulevard Overpass.
The shift will be in effect for approximately the next 25 working days as crews work on the Northside bridge, and will then shift again for the next 25 days as crews begin to work on the railroad bridges.
Eastbound and westbound I-84 lanes have separate bridge structures, with two lanes in each direction. To conduct construction activities safely on the eastbound structures, traffic is reduced to one lane, shifting the other eastbound lane to the westbound bridge, separated from the two westbound lanes by concrete barricades. The reverse will occur when construction activities shift to the westbound structures.
Click here for an illustration of the traffic pattern.
“There was significant confusion this morning, with the vast majority of traffic getting over into the left lane and going into the crossover, while almost no one was staying in the right lane. However, both lanes continue east and are part of I-84,” explained ITD project manager David Barrett.
"Since the interstate curves as a whole to the left as you head east, drivers can’t look down the road and see that they won’t be directed to get off at Northside. It almost looks like they will have to exit. It is only after they travel down that lane that it becomes clear that they won’t have to exit,” he added.
Northside Boulevard is reduced from five lanes to three - one in each direction with a center turn lane - through the project area.
The Northside interchange is ranked 8th in the state in traffic volume, carrying 80,000 vehicles per day. Both bridges were built in 1966.
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.
Nighttime and weekend work is anticipated.
Granite Construction, of Salt Lake City, is the contractor for this $4 million project.