7/18/2006
Road construction update for eastern Idaho, July 18-25
RIGBY - A new metal retaining wall along a section of U.S. 26 along Palisades Reservoir in eastern Idaho has been installed and night-time traffic has been restored, the Idaho Transportation Department announced.
Work on the metal sheet pile wall was completed Monday night by Idaho Construction of Kimberly. State crews will be working on the road during the day for about three weeks to finish the project. Traffic will be controlled by flaggers and delays of up to 15 minutes should be expected.
Elsewhere in eastern Idaho, a number of seal coat projects are under way including U.S. 20 from Idaho Falls to Rigby, Idaho 33 east of Teton and U.S. 20/26 on Broadway west of Idaho Falls.
Work is also under way on the approaches to the new Canyon Creek Bridge on Idaho 33 and traffic has been routed over the new structure.
Here is a rundown of projects in eastern Idaho for July 11-18:
U.S. 26, Palisades Sheet Pile Wall - U.S. 26 near Palisades Dam is now open at night. Idaho Construction Co. has completed a metal retaining wall to keep the road from falling into the lake. Motorists can expect short delays Monday through Thursday during working hours as state crews pave the short section of road involved in the project. Flaggers will direct traffic through the work zone. Work is expected to continue into the first week of August.
I-15, Sunnyside I-15 Interchange to I-15B - Motorists soon will be driving on the new concrete paving at the intersection of Sunnyside Road and Yellowstone Highway (U.S. 26/I-15B). Traffic will continue to be restricted to one lane in each direction with a four-way stop for traffic control. As much as possible, the public should use an alternate route to avoid the intersection. Paving soon will begin on the new Sunnyside alignment between the intersection and the new Snake River Bridge.
U.S. 20/26, Tom Cat Hill East - Travel is rough and dusty from milepost 224 to milepost 233 through the Craters of the Moon National Monument along U.S. 20/26. Pilot cars are guiding traffic through one way at a time. Motorists can expect to lose up to 45 minutes of travel time getting through the work zone. Western Construction is building a new alignment of the highway for two miles and rebuilding 8.8 miles of roadway. Work will continue through September.
Idaho 33, Canyon Creek Bridge - Traffic has been routed over the new Canyon Creek Bridge on Idaho 33 east of Newdale where Zollinger Construction of Rexburg is building the highway approaches in preparation for paving the new alignment. Traffic will be one-way Monday through Thursday during working hours. Motorists can expect delays of up to 10 minutes. A 35-mph speed limit and 12-foot width restriction are in effect through the work zone.
Idaho 33, Teton East and West - A seal coat will be applied to Idaho 33 east of Teton starting Tuesday. Approaches to the highway will be seal coated first. Traffic will be guided one way through the project by pilot car. Work may continue into the weekend.
U.S. 20, Idaho Falls to Rigby, Southbound - The southbound lanes of U.S. 20 from Science Center Drive in Idaho Falls to the south Rigby exit are being re-paved and seal coated. Traffic is restricted to one lane with a reduced speed limit of 45 mph. Work is expected to continue through the end of August. Motorists are encouraged to use alternate routes into Idaho Falls, including U.S. 20 Exit 315 at Ucon to Idaho 43 or U.S. 26 Exit 313 to Hitt Road (25th East).
Seal coats - U.S. 20/26 west of Idaho Falls from Cinder Butte Road to Yellowstone (U.S. 26B) will be seal coated starting Wednesday. Traffic will be restricted to one-lane with a reduced speed limit of 35 mph. Motorists are advised to slow down and obey speed limits to reduce windshield damage. Idaho 48 from First South to State Street in Rigby and the new turn lanes at the North Rigby Interchange on U.S. 20B also will be seat coated.