6/2/2017
Bridge-repair project funded with new revenue resumes Monday (June 5) on U.S. 20 south of Thornton
RIGBY - A project to make critical maintenance and safety repairs to bridges on U.S. 20 between Idaho Falls and Ashton resumes Monday (June 5). Repairs are being funded by $1.1 million in new transportation revenue from last year’s general-fund surplus.
Travel will be reduced to one lane in each direction and the speed limit will be reduced to 45 mph, beginning at the Texas Slough bridges south of Thornton. Motorists should watch for construction workers and equipment, and obey all traffic signs.
Crews will resurface decks of the Texas Slough and South Rexburg Interchange (Exit 332) bridges, starting with northbound and southbound passing lanes. Workers will also improve approaches to the bridges. Work is scheduled for completion in mid-July.
Last year, crews repaired U.S. 20 bridges at Hitt (Exit 313), County Line (Exit 318), Menan-Lorenzo (Exit 325) and Rexburg (Exit 333) overpasses, plus the bridge at Fall River south of Ashton.
In December 2015, the Idaho Transportation Board selected road and bridge projects across Idaho for maintenance and repair work. Projects were all funded by the $54.1 million in general-fund surplus provided by the Idaho Legislature that year. Selections came from a pool of projects based on analysis of each project’s return on investment in the areas of safety, mobility, economic opportunity, bridge condition, and right-of-way purchases. This is one of those projects.
Commercial drivers transporting permitted loads wider than 14 feet need to contact Resident Engineer Wade Allen (208-745-5680) or Staff Engineer Jeremie Pettingill (208-745-5315) 48 hours in advance for special authorization to pass through the work zones.
The Idaho Transportation Department awarded the contract to D.L. Beck Inc., of Rexburg.