9/20/2006
South-central Idaho highway construction report for Sept. 21-28
SHOSHONE - Following is the highway construction report for south-central Idaho for Sept. 21-28.
U.S. 93 Twin Falls Alternate Route Stage 1: Construction on the U.S. 93 Twin Falls Alternate Route from Washington Street to Blue Lakes Boulevard is under way.
Concrete paving operations will close access to Canyon Crest Road beginning Thursday (Sept. 21). Motorists can access Everton Mattress and Furniture Gallery, Montana Steakhouse and other affected businesses by using Washington Street North. The closure is expected to be in place until Sept. 26.
Concrete paving operations continue at the intersection of Fillmore Street and Pole Line Road, closing the north entrance to Fillmore Street from Pole Line Road. The closure is expected to be in place until Sept. 25. Motorists can access Commercial Tire, Idaho Central Credit Union, Health and Welfare and other affected businesses by using the back entrance to Fillmore Street from Blue Lakes Boulevard and Canyon Springs Road.
Washington Street North is expected to close beginning Sept. 26 as concrete paving operations move into the intersection of Washington Street and Pole Line Road. The closure is expected to be in place until mid-October. Canyon Crest Road will reopen prior to the closing of Washington Street North.
Traffic on Pole Line Road from Grandview Drive to Blue Lakes Boulevard has shifted to the eastbound lanes. Traffic is reduced to two lanes, with one lane open in each direction. Motorists should use caution as they travel through the intersections of Fillmore Street and Blue Lakes Boulevard because of increased congestion and altered lane configurations. The temporary signal lights at the Fillmore Street intersection have been replaced with new signals that contain the latest in video detection technology to minimize traffic delays.
The traffic shift allows crews to reconstruct the westbound section of the Twin Falls Alternate Route. Truck drivers are encouraged to use Blue Lakes Boulevard to Addison Avenue.
This phase of the U.S. 93 Twin Falls Alternate Route project is expected to be complete by November. Western Construction of Boise is the contractor for the $18.8 million Stage 1 project.
U.S. 93 Blue Lakes Boulevard: Engineering crews are locating underground utilities on Blue Lakes Boulevard (U.S. 93) from Falls Avenue to the Perrine Bridge. The work is part of the U.S. 93 Blue Lakes North Corridor Project scheduled to begin in 2009.
To minimize impacts to motorists, work will be done between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. Flaggers will direct traffic through the work zone. Lane closures and delays of up to 10 minutes are possible. The project is expected to be finished by late September.
Civil Science Inc., an engineering firm from Salt Lake City, is the contractor.
U.S. 30, Twin Falls Canal Bridge: Crews continue bridge deck rehabilitation on a Twin Falls Main Canal bridge on U.S. 30 (milepost 238), a mile east of Murtaugh.
Traffic is reduced to one lane over the bridge, controlled by a temporary traffic signal. Motorists should expect delays of up to 15 minutes. Vehicles are limited to a maximum width of 15 feet through the construction zone, and the speed limit is reduced to 35 mph.
This project includes reconstructing the top portion of the bridge deck with new concrete, replacing bridge joints and repairing deteriorated sections of the bridge.
Construction is expected to be complete by mid-October. Cannon Builders Inc. of Blackfoot is the project contractor.
Idaho 75, Basin Creek Bridge: Crews are replacing the Basin Creek Bridge on Idaho 75 (milepost 197), seven miles north of Stanley. Traffic is reduced from two lanes to one, controlled by a portable traffic signal. The speed limit is reduced to 35 mph, and delays of up to 10 minutes should be expected. Vehicles are limited to a maximum width of 12 feet in the work zone. Cannon Builders Inc. of Blackfoot is the contractor for this $1 million project, which is expected to be complete by November.
Motorists are reminded to slow down in highway construction zones. Rear-end collisions account for most work-zone crashes.