5/24/2006
Construction season starting in eastern Idaho
RIGBY - Travelers through central and eastern Idaho are beginning to see the orange cones and worker vests that indicate construction work along the state's highways.
Only three projects are under way in the nine-county area of District 6, and construction will be suspended for the three-day Memorial Day weekend. A number of other projects are expected to begin over the next few weeks.
Here is a rundown of projects in eastern Idaho for May 24-31:
Interstate 15, Sunnyside I-15 Interchange to I-15B - Work has resumed on the $23 million project to build a new interchange on I-15, a new bridge over the Snake River and a five-lane connector road through to Sunnyside Road at the Yellowstone Highway (U.S. 26/I-15B). Idaho Construction has completed the interchange and is working on the bridge and the intersection at Sunnyside and Yellowstone. Traffic is restricted to one lane in each direction with a four-way stop. As much as possible, the public should use an alternate route. The project is scheduled for completion this fall.
U.S. 93/20/16, Tom Cat Hill East - Western Construction is blasting rock on U.S. 93/20/26 from the Butte/Blaine county line at milepost 224.2 for two miles to the east in preparation for widening and straightening the road. Traffic is limited to one lane. Pilot cars guide traffic through the work zone. Expect 15-minute delays on a gravel surface. The work will continue throughout the summer to improve 8.8 miles through the Craters of the Moon National Monument. The highway between mileposts 224 and 226 will be reconstructed to improve horizontal and vertical curves and sight distance, and the road from mileposts 226 to 233 will be rehabilitated.
I-15, China Point Snow Fence - Croft Chimney Sweep of Idaho Falls is installing snow fence along the west side of I-15 north of Spencer between mileposts 176 and 179 to reduce drifting snow. The work should not disrupt traffic.
Idaho 33, Canyon Creek Bridge - Work is expected to resume Tuesday on the highway alignment for the new Canyon Creek Bridge at milepost 115 on Idaho 33 east of Newdale. The bridge was completed last fall, but traffic remains routed over the old bridge until the new highway alignment is completed. Zollinger Construction of Rexburg is the roadway subcontractor for Sletten Construction, the prime contractor from Great Falls, Mont., on the $4.3 million project.