7/11/2014
Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov
Southwest Idaho highway construction report for July 11-18
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 well underway on the Broadway interchange in east Boise. ITD is adding turn lanes on Broadway Avenue, replacing the bridge and ramps, and adding a third lane to I-84 between the Broadway and Gowen interchanges. The project is expected to be completed by late 2015.
The new east half of the interchange bridge opened to traffic last week and the old bridge was demolished. Crews will begin constructing the west half of the bridge next week. During the first several days, crews will drive steel piles into the ground to support the bridge foundation. Pile driving will be noisy.
Southbound Broadway Avenue is restricted to one travel lane across the interchange until next year. Southbound Broadway Avenue will be closed several evenings from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. during blasting detours. The work-zone speed limit on Broadway Avenue is 25 mph.
All lanes of I-84 will be open during the day, but lanes will be reduced at night (8:30 p.m. to 5 a.m.). Shoulders will be reduced in some areas of I-84 during the next phase of construction. The work-zone speed limit on I-84 is 55 mph.
Concrete Placing Company, of Boise, is the contractor on the $26.7 million project.
I-84, Gowen Road Interchange
Major construction is continuing 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.
Starting tonight at 10 p.m., I-84 will be restricted to one lane in both directions from the Eisenman Interchange to just west of the Gowen interchange. Width restrictions (12 foot) will be in effect. Eastbound traffic must use a dedicated lane to exit I-84 at Gowen Road. Detour routes will be posted for over-width vehicles.
Once traffic is switched, ITD will demolish the eastbound bridge over Gowen Road. The I-84 eastbound ramps and Gowen Road will be closed tonight from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. and Saturday (July 12) from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m.
The contractor will continue blasting rock at the interchange site during the week of July 14. Evening detours will be scheduled between 7 and 11 p.m. in the project area.
During blasting this summer, approximately 35,000 cubic yards of hard basalt rock will be removed to make way for the new ramps and improvements.
Crews also are working on widening the eastbound railroad bridge near Gowen. They will be switching eastbound traffic to the westbound side after the Fourth of July weekend.
Overnight lane restrictions will continue on I-84 from 8 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 in the work zone.
Knife River Corporation, of Boise, is the contractor on the $27 million project.
I-84, Meridian Road Interchange
Construction is progressing 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.
At the I-84 interchange, 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. I-84 will be widened four lanes in both directions under the interchange.
On I-84 between Meridian and Five Mile roads, ITD will completely reconstruct the two outside lanes originally built in the 1960s. The inside lanes and storm-drain system in the median will be improved.
Eastbound I-84 has been reduced from four to three lanes during the day and night between the Meridian Interchange and Five Mile Road. Westbound I-84 will be reduced to three lanes in late July. The lane restrictions will give crews a larger work zone for improving the storm-drain system and paving the I-84 median.
]At the interchange, crews are building the pier and abutment for the west half of the bridge, and building embankments for the westbound on- and off-ramps. Crews also are working in the median between Meridian Road and Five Mile. They are removing asphalt and constructing the storm-drain system in the median.
Crews are working 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). Lane widths have been restricted to 10 feet on the Meridian Road bridge over I-84.
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)
On the Idaho 16 Extension project, paving on Idaho 44 is complete, with striping scheduled for completion next week. Paving on Idaho 16 north of Idaho 44 also is complete, and traffic on U.S. 20/26 is shifted to the north side through the project area as crews prepare the roadbed on the south side for paving.
Signs to guide vehicles and flaggers to direct traffic will be placed as needed through the construction zones to increase awareness and safety. Concrete barricades will separate traffic from most construction activities.
The speed limit in the construction area is 45 mph. Motorists are strongly encouraged to drive with caution through construction zones. All construction schedules are subject to change due to weather.
South of U.S. 20/26, the existing alignment of McDermott Road is closed until mid-August. Routes for local residents and emergency services are clearly marked to access U.S. 20/26. Traffic is detoured to McMillan Road from Star Road (east of McDermott) and Black Cat Road (west of McDermott).
A new alignment of McDermott Road is being constructed and will open in mid-August. The new McDermott Road intersection will only allow for right-in, right-out movements to and from U.S. 20/26.
Westbound U.S. 20/26 traffic will not be able to access McDermott and McDermott traffic will not be allowed to turn left on U.S. 20/26. Through southbound traffic from the new Idaho 16 alignment cannot continue to McDermott. These traffic measures were implemented to prevent unnecessary and potentially disruptive traffic to local residents on McDermott, which is not a through street.
The 2.5-mile extension of Idaho 16 over the Boise River, from Idaho 44 to U.S. 20/26, will not open to traffic until full project completion, anticipated in mid-August.
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.
ADA COUNTY
MERIDIAN - Eagle Road between Franklin Road and I-84
ITD began work last week to construct new southbound lane on Eagle Road between Franklin Road and Interstate 84. The project is expected to be complete by mid-September.
In addition to building a third southbound lane, the project will include adding sidewalk, curb and gutter on the west side of Eagle Road from Franklin Road to I-84. New traffic-signal heads and pedestrian-crossing buttons will be installed at the intersections of Franklin Road, E. St. Luke’s Road and I-84.
Lanes will be restricted at night (10 p.m. to 5 a.m.) on southbound Eagle Road between Franklin Road and I-84. The majority of work will occur Sunday through Thursday at night. At least one lane in each direction will remain open during the overnight work. The speed limit will be reduced to 40 mph in the work zone when lane closures are in effect.
In general, access to businesses and residences will remain open throughout construction. Eagle Road will remain open at all times.
Idaho Sand & Gravel, of Nampa, is the contractor on this $1 million project.
ADA COUNTY
EAST BOISE – Asphalt repair, milepost 70
Crews are preparing to start a two-week, pavement-rehabilitation project on 770 feet of cracked and rutted asphalt near milepost 70, between Mayfield and Indian Creek. Work is expected to start in late July and finish in the first week of August.
Westbound traffic will be reduced to 45 mph and to one lane during the project. This project will involve a full-depth asphalt removal with an inlay to match the existing surface, followed by a 0.25-foot overlay to match the new construction from last season.
Central Paving, of Boise, is the contractor for this $220,000 project.
ADAMS COUNTY
U.S. 95 improvements, Trail Creek Bridge to Pinehurst
A brief project on U.S. 95 in Adams County between the Trail Creek Bridge and Pinehurst resumed July 7 and finish by mid-August.
Crews will be installing a welded, wire-reinforced retaining wall to support the highway’s shoulder. Work will begin at milepost 177 and head north to milepost 181.7.
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.
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.
Excavation, backfill and repaving will take approximately 10 days at each of the three locations in this 4.7-mile stretch of roadway.
Areas of work next week include soft-spot repair, trench-drain installation and asphalt- curb removal. Flaggers will be on hand to guide motorists.
Flaggers will control traffic while project preparations are made and a temporary traffic signal is placed. The traffic signal will control traffic around the clock at the first location, then move to the second and third locations as work is completed.
Debco Construction, of Orofino, is the contractor on this $762,000 project.
BOISE COUNTY
IDAHO CITY NORTH - Idaho 21 resurfacing, Idaho City to Mores Creek Summit
A 13.3-mile pavement-rehabilitation project on Idaho 21 from ITD’s maintenance shed at Idaho City, to the Mores Creek Summit, began June 23. The project should finish by mid-September.
Crews will conduct pavement repairs, fix frost heaves and improve drainage, both north- and southbound, from milepost 39 to 52.3. They also will mill about one-quarter inch from the surface, trench across and along the road at various locations, seal cracks in the pavement and smooth the surface to apply a double seal coat.? ?
Crews will work a 7 a.m.-to-7 p.m. schedule Monday through Thursday, and be off the road by noon on Fridays.
There will be an intermittent speed-limit reduction to 35 mph with only one-lane available initially. A pilot car and flaggers will be used to guide motorists.
Knife River Corp. Northwest, of Boise, is the contractor on this $1.6 million project.
BOISE COUNTY
Idaho 21 resurfacing from Lucky Peak High Bridge to Robie Creek Road
A 4.7-mile 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 beginning July 7 and extending into November.
CRABS (Cement Recycled Asphalt Base Stabilization) involves pulverizing the existing roadway down to the gravel base, then adding cement to the pulverized material, and finally, placing a new layer of asphalt pavement over the top.
The work from milepost 17.3-22 also will include repairs to the existing drainage system, culvert cleaning and inspection, and replacement of substandard or damaged guardrail.
Crews will work from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. to complete the project, and until noon on Fridays if needed.
Idaho Sand & Gravel, of Nampa, is the contractor on this $1.8 million project.
CANYON COUNTY
NAMPA - I-84, UPRR E. Lateral Canal Bridge & Northside Blvd. Underpass
Reconstruction of the aging Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) E. Lateral Canal Bridge and the Northside Boulevard Overpass with Interstate 84 at Exit 35 is underway.
Northside Boulevard is reduced from five lanes to three, one in each direction with a center turn lane, through the project area. This configuration will remain in place through mid-July. Intermittent nighttime lane closures are occurring on I-84 through the construction zone (mileposts 34.9-35.2), between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.
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.
During the first part of next week, westbound interstate traffic will shift to a temporary construction configuration as crews continue reconstruction on the aging Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) bridges and the Northside Boulevard Overpass. The shift will be in effect until early August so that crews can finish work on the railroad bridges.
Eastbound and westbound I-84 lanes have separate bridge structures, two lanes in each direction. To conduct construction activities safely on the westbound structures, two lanes of traffic will remain open: One lane will remain on the westbound bridge while the other westbound lane will be shifted to the eastbound bridge, separated from the two eastbound lanes by concrete barricades. With this shift in traffic, the afternoon commute for motorists will be impacted.
The contractor has completed half of the eastbound bridge deck on Northside. The remaining portion of the eastbound bridge deck has been removed and new panels set.
The Northside interchange is ranked 8th in the state in traffic volume, carrying 80,000 vehicles per day. Both bridges were built in 1966.
Granite Construction, of Salt Lake City, is the contractor for this $4 million project.
PAYETTE COUNTY
I-84 resurfacing from Oregon border to Black Canyon
The lanes of Interstate 84 from the Oregon state line to the Black Canyon Interchange at Exit 13 are being resurfaced. The work will result in a smoother driving surface for motorists. The project is expected to last through late October or early November.
Crews first built crossovers at both ends of the project to move traffic off the freeway surface to enable repairs.
In this mill-and-inlay pavement rehabilitation on both sides of the freeway — westbound lanes will be done first, followed by the eastbound lanes — crews will mill out about three inches of pavement in the right lanes. It will then be sealed with a fiberglass pavement reinforcing fabric to prevent existing cracks from spreading upward to the new surface.
The entire roadway will be sealed with a SALSA (Stress Absorbing Layer of Straight Asphalt) to help keep the new pavement flexible. Then the entire roadway will receive three inches of new Hot Mixed Asphalt (HMA) pavement. A section of I-84 eastbound from the Snake River Bridge to milepost 0.9 will be reconstructed to repair soft-base conditions under the existing pavement.
Ramps at Exit 3 (Fruitland) and at Exit 9 (New Plymouth) also will be overlaid.
Motorists should expect possible single-lane closures during daylight hours Mondays through Fridays in either the eastbound or westbound directions for the next two to three weeks while equipment is moved to different parts of the project to construct the new median crossovers.
While lane closures are in effect, the speed limit will be reduced to 65 mph.
Western Construction, of Boise, is the contractor on this $9.6 million project.
VALLEY COUNTY
McCALL – Lardo Bridge Replacement
The team of Ralph L. Wadsworth Construction and Lochner begin construction of the Lardo Bridge replacement project this week. The traveling public will see construction activity begin on the north side of the bridge.
The crew will begin setting up cranes, hauling in materials, installing fencing and storage trailers, and using proven environmental conservation measures to protect soil and water during construction. As soon as all permits are approved, they will begin driving piles.
The Idaho Transportation Department is replacing the 83-year old Lardo Bridge on the southwest shore of Payette Lake. The new bridge will accommodate one lane of traffic in each direction, along with bicycle and pedestrian facilities on each side of the bridge.
While construction activity will be noticeable, drivers will not be impacted by any road closures at this stage. The new bridge will be constructed north of the existing structure.
By using an accelerated construction technique called lateral slide, the new bridge will eventually be slid into place after the old bridge is demolished. This method significantly reduces the duration of the full closure of the bridge. Traffic during the closure will be detoured to Boydstun Street. The Lardo Bridge closure is anticipated for this fall following Labor Day.
WASHINGTON COUNTY
CAMBRIDGE - Replacement of U.S. 95 Creek Bridge
Minor work off the roadway could begin as early as Monday (July 14) on a project to replace the old short-span Creek Bridge on U.S. 95 about seven miles north of Cambridge. This project is expected to be completed in approximately two months.
Traffic impact should be minimal. Work may take place outside the roadway. Traffic will be reduced to one lane, guided by a portable traffic signal.
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.
WASHINGTON COUNTY
PAYETTE - Idaho 52 railroad overpass replacement
Rehabilitation and resurfacing the railroad overpass on Idaho 52 in Payette is likely to begin Monday (July 14). The project is expected to last through mid-November.
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. After the initial set-up of equipment and concrete barriers, one lane of traffic will be open in each direction.
Crews expect to work from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mondays through Saturdays.
Braun-Jensen Inc., of Payette, is the contractor on this $1.3 million project.