9/5/2014
Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov
Southwest Idaho highway construction report for Sept. 5-12
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 and serious injuries by 51 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 is open to traffic. ITD has re-opened a northbound lane on Broadway Avenue south of the interchange to help reduce traffic congestion. Trucks are encouraged to use the Vista Avenue Interchange to access I-84.
The west half of the interchange bridge is currently under construction. Crews continue working in the median, installing storm-drain systems and installing sign-bridge foundations.
Overnight lane restrictions will be in place over the next several weeks on I-84 east of the interchange from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Crews will be improving the drain system in the I-84 median and setting girders for the new Hillcrest railroad bridge. Southbound Broadway Avenue is restricted to one travel lane across the interchange until next year. The work-zone speed limit on Broadway Avenue is 25 mph. ITD recommends that large trucks south of the interchange use the Vista Interchange to access I-84.
Crews are preparing for temporary pavement near the new eastbound off-ramp and preparing to place curb, gutter and pavement for the westbound on-ramp. Ongoing work includes building the soundwall, grading the median for the median barrier, drilling foundations for sign bridges, installing storm drain, and working on the underdrain system.
All lanes of I-84 will be open during the day, but lanes may be reduced at night (8:30 p.m. to 5 a.m.). Shoulders will be reduced in some areas of I-84.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.
Crews are constructing the new eastbound I-84 bridge over Gowen Road. Gowen Road will be reduced to one lane of traffic from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. during the remainder of September. The restrictions will affect 500 feet of Gowen Road between the I-84 ramps. Flaggers will direct one lane of traffic in alternating directions through the work zone.
While the bridge is under construction, I-84 has been restricted to one lane in both directions from the Eisenman Road Interchange to just west of the Gowen interchange. Width restrictions (12 foot) are in effect on I-84. Detour routes are posted for over-width vehicles. Pile driving will be noisy at night.
For the next several months, eastbound traffic must use a dedicated lane to exit I-84 at Gowen Road. The speed limit is 45 mph in the new dedicated eastbound I-84 exit lane and 55 mph on I-84. The speed limit is 25 mph on Gowen Road.
Crews will work overnight on Friday and Saturday (Sept. 5 and 6) to place girders for the eastbound side of the new bridge over Gowen Road. The girders are massive – 171 feet long, seven feet tall and 174,000 lbs. each. During this work, Gowen Road will be closed from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. between Eisenman Road and Federal Way.
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.
Knife River Corporation, of Boise, is the contractor on the $27 million project.
On Friday (Sept. 4) crews will place bridge-deck concrete for the railroad bridge widening. They are also working on the eastbound I-84 reconstruct from the railroad bridge toward the east end of the project.
I-84, Meridian Road Interchange
Construction is progressing to replace the Meridian Road Interchange and improve Interstate 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, 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.
This week, the contractor continued placing rebar and utility accommodations in the bridge deck prior to a bridge deck pour next Thursday (Sept. 11).
Embankment work continues on the on-ramps. The sewer upgrade in the median was completed this week. The median roadway is being prepared and gravel brought in for concrete paving to resume in two weeks.
I-84 will be reduced to two lanes in both directions under the interchange from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. for the next month. Restrictions will continue until 7 a.m. on weekends. Westbound I-84 will be further reduced to one lane for a few nights later this month. The restrictions are necessary for safety while crews work on the bridge.
Traffic will be shifted each night as crews move from one end of the bridge to the other.
The eastbound “loop” on-ramp from southbound Meridian road will be closed intermittently during work on the bridge. Southbound traffic will still be able to access the other eastbound on-ramp from northbound Meridian Road. Flaggers will direct traffic at the ramp intersection.
Meanwhile, I-84 has been reduced to three lanes in both directions between the Meridian Interchange and Five Mile Road. Day-and-night restrictions eliminate the need to set guardrail each day, a process that takes several days to complete. It also allows trucks to deliver materials to the work zone during the day.
During the next several months, ITD urges drivers to plan ahead and allow extra time to reach their destinations.
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 and striping on Idaho 44, Idaho 16 north of Idaho 44 and U.S. 20/26 is complete. Intermittent traffic shifts are expected on U.S. 20/26 and Idaho 44 while crews complete final work. The 2.5-mile extension of Idaho 16 over the Boise River opened Aug. 15.
Signs to guide vehicles and flaggers will be used throughout the construction zones to increase awareness and safety. Additionally, concrete barricades separate traffic from most construction activities. The speed limit restrictions on Idaho 44 and Idaho 16 north of Idaho 44 have returned to 55 mph.
The speed limit on U.S. 20/26 will remain reduced until remaining work items are completed. Motorists are strongly encouraged to drive with caution through construction zones. Please review the following to find out what is occurring in the different areas of the project.
South of U.S. 20/26, the new McDermott Road intersection is now open. The new alignment allows for right-in, right-out movements only to/from U.S. 20/26. Westbound U.S. 20/26 traffic cannot access McDermott, and McDermott traffic is not allowed to turn left on U.S. 20/26. Through southbound traffic from the new Idaho 16 alignment cannot continue to McDermott. These measures were implemented to prevent unnecessary and potentially disruptive traffic on McDermott, which is not a through street.
ADA COUNTY
MERIDIAN - Eagle Road between Franklin Road and I-84
Work is underway to construct new southbound lane on Eagle Road between Franklin Road and Interstate 84.
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.
Entrances to several local streets off Eagle Road will be closed intermittently at night (10 p.m. to 5 a.m.). The affected streets are Magic View Drive, E. St. Luke’s Street, Autumn Way and Springwood Drive. Signs will be posted on Eagle Road directing drivers to alternate routes. The closures will allow crews to install drainage facilities, relocate utilities and pave the roadway.
Idaho Sand & Gravel, of Nampa, is the contractor on this $1 million project.
Crews installed infiltration basis and completed most preparatory work necessary for the relocation of the St Luke’s signal poles. Due to utility relocation delays, however, project completion has been delayed until late September or early October.
ADAMS COUNTY
U.S. 95 Improvements, Alpine Store to New Meadows
A 40-mile pavement preventive-maintenance project on U.S. 95 and Idaho 55 is underway. Work is expected to end in late September.
The work includes an 11.5-mile section of U.S. 95 from Alpine Store to Council, a 24.8-mile stretch of U.S. 95 from Council to New Meadows, and a 3.7-mile stretch of Idaho 55, from the turnoff to Packer John Cabin State Park to New Meadows.
The project will involve milling off one-half inch of the old roadway surface in various locations to prepare for a new driving surface, repairing asphalt soft-spots, repairing and installing guardrail and delineation, and installing trench drain in specific areas along the highway.
A quality-control paving test strip was placed this week, with production paving expected to start on Monday. Flaggers and pilot cars are being used throughout many different areas in the project (trench drains, milling and guardrail removal).
Crews will work seven days per week to finish on time.
Paving is about 75 percent done, and approaches are about 65 percent done. Only a few days of paving remain. Other miscellaneous work - shoulder grading, curb installation, guardrail installation - will take place over the next couple of weeks. Flagging and pilot car operations are moving traffic through the work areas.
Knife River Corp. Northwest, of Boise, is the contractor on this $6.7 million 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 will finish by mid-August.
Crews are 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.
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 repaired pavement, fixed frost heaves and improved drainage, both north- and southbound, from milepost 39-52.3. They also milled about one-quarter inch from the surface, trenched across and along the road at various locations, sealed cracks in the pavement and smoothed the surface, in order to apply a double seal coat. Remaining work includes the double seal coat, which began Aug 25.
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.
Most culvert repairs and cleaning is being conducted on the roadway shoulder with minimal impacts to traffic.
Some highway pulverizing is expected to begin at the High Bridge this weekend, with a pavement test strip Monday or Tuesday (Sept. 9 or 10). Traffic will be guided by flaggers.
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
Temporary traffic shifts in Nampa's Northside Boulevard area (Exit 35) have finished and normal traffic flows and speed limits have resumed on the impacted stretch of Interstate 84, which includes the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) Bridge and Northside Boulevard Overpass. As the project nears completion, the following overnight ramp closures from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. will occur in the area over the next few weeks:
- Eastbound Northside on-ramp: Monday (Sept. 8) and Tuesday (Sept. 9)
- Westbound Northside off-ramp: Wednesday (Sept. 10) and Thursday (Sept. 11)
- Westbound Northside off-ramp: Saturday (Sept. 13)
- Eastbound Northside on-ramp: Saturday (Sept. 20)
Crews will place signage in the area directing motorists to use detour routes during the ramp closures.
Intermittent lane closures and nighttime work are still expected in the area. Traffic shifts on Northside Boulevard will be completed next week. Until then, at least one lane in each direction will remain open.
The contractor will finish painting on the Northside eastbound and westbound bridges this weekend. During the following week, crews will begin preparing the UPRR bridge girders working for paint, and replace bearing pads on the eastbound UPRR bridge.
The bridge decks on the westbound UPRR bridge and the eastbound Northside structure were replaced, while decks on the eastbound UPRR bridge and westbound Northside were repaired and sealed.
The Northside Boulevard Interchange is ranked eighth 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.
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.
The 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 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. The first three bridge girders are expected to be set for the new bridge next week.
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. The entire project is expected to finish by late fall.
Ralph L. Wadsworth has completed the temporary structure on the west side of the North Fork Payette River.
Construction runs Monday - Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to approximately 7:30 p.m.
The work will consist of building the superstructure of the new bridge adjacent to the existing bridge and doing preliminary work under the existing bridge. Around mid-October, the existing bridge will be closed and traffic detoured to Dienhard and Boydstun for approximately a month to allow demolition and removal of the existing bridge and sliding the new bridge into place and reopening the roadway.
The west end of the park will be closed until all work is complete. This area has been closed off with orange construction fencing.
WASHINGTON COUNTY
CAMBRIDGE - Replacement of U.S. 95 Creek Bridge
Minor work is underway 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.
The first two phases of work are complete. Paving will be finished sometime next week. This area is being controlled by a signal, allowing one lane to travel past the structure at a time.
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 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.
Lead abatement and painting of the rail continues. Crews are removing the center portion of the bridge curbing and deck. Concrete work is expected to begin next week. One lane of traffic open in each direction with occasional flagging to allow equipment maneuvers.
Braun-Jensen Inc., of Payette, is the contractor on this $1.3 million project.