12/8/2006
Southwest Idaho highway construction report for Dec. 8 - Dec. 15
BOISE - Following is an update on highway construction projects in southwest Idaho.
ADA COUNTY
U.S. 20/26 (Chinden Boulevard), Hewlett-Packard main entrance to Joplin
Idaho Sand & Gravel is building this $6.9 million project to widen Chinden from two to four lanes between Hewlett-Packard and Joplin Road. At least one lane in each direction will be open at all times. Access to Joplin from Chinden is now open at Joplin's east and west entrances. Work on this project is expected to be complete in early December, weather permitting. This is the second phase of a project to widen Chinden Boulevard to four lanes and a center turn lane from Eagle Road through Garden City. The final section, between Hewlett-Packard's main entrance and Cloverdale Road, is scheduled for construction in 2007.
Blacks Creek Rest Area
Western Construction is the contractor on a $10.2 million project to rebuild this Interstate 84 rest area, located about 10 miles east of Boise. When finished, the site will include new bathrooms, a picnic area with tables and seating and new landscaping. Intermittent lane closures are tentatively scheduled in the eastbound and westbound lanes in early- to mid-December. One lane in each direction will remain open. The speed limit is reduced from 75 mph to 65 mph through the construction area.
CANYON COUNTY
Interstate 84, Karcher Interchange, Nampa
Central Paving Inc. is building this new I-84 Interchange in Nampa. Motorists on Karcher Road that are northeast of the Nampa-Caldwell Boulevard are asked to use Midland Boulevard to reach Nampa-Caldwell Boulevard. The westbound and eastbound lanes of Nampa-Caldwell Boulevard are open. Karcher Road in front of the Edwards Theatres Nampa Stadium 14 is also open. A ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the completion of the interchange is on Tuesday, Dec. 12. The interchange will be open for traffic after the ceremony.
Interstate 84, Caldwell Franklin Interchange
The Franklin Road Interchange is being reconstructed to improve access to Caldwell from I-84, improve traffic flow, and ease congestion. The reconstruction, which starts in early December, will improve several aspects of the interchange. The current two-lane Franklin Overpass will be replaced with a six-lane bridge. The new overpass will have two through lanes in each direction and dual left turn lanes in each direction. The interchange ramps will be lengthened and widened to two lanes at their intersection with Franklin. Franklin Road will be widened from two to five lanes between the overpass and Specht Avenue. The improved road will have a curb, gutter, sidewalk, bicycle lanes and shoulder. Aviation Way will be widened at the intersection with Franklin Road. A new traffic signal will be added. Lanes may be reduced temporarily on Franklin Road and Aviation Way during the widening. Both roads will remain open during construction. One or both lanes of I-84 may be closed between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. for safety while crews rebuild the overpass. Traffic will be detoured. While crews build a new storm sewer, 21st Avenue will be closed temporarily. Traffic will use temporary ramps while the old ramps are reconstructed. A new bridge and three new lanes will be constructed before the old overpass is torn down and traffic will use the new three lanes while crews rebuild the old bridge. At the project's completion, all six new lanes will be opened. Traffic updates will be posted to ITD's 511 service (511.Idaho.gov, or dial 511). Concrete Placing Co. is the contractor for the $25 million project. Construction is scheduled to be finished in the fall of 2008.
Idaho 55, Marsing to Sunnyslope Curve
The road will be widened to five lanes with guardrail, irrigation, drainage facilities and a new canal bridge added in this three-mile section of Idaho 55. Motorists will be assisted through the work zone by traffic control devices and flaggers. The speed limit is reduced to 45 mph in the work zone. Idaho Sand & Gravel is the contractor for this $6.1 million project that will be finished in spring 2007.
ELMORE COUNTY
8th Street North widening, Mountain Home
This project will reconstruct and widen a .42-mile section of 8th Street North in Mountain Home. Between the canal and American Legion Boulevard, 8th Street North is open to traffic until early summer 2007. The work is expected to be finished next year.
ADA COUNTY
U.S. 20/26 (Chinden Boulevard), Hewlett-Packard main entrance to Joplin
Idaho Sand & Gravel is building this $6.9 million project to widen Chinden from two to four lanes between Hewlett-Packard and Joplin Road. At least one lane in each direction will be open at all times. Access to Joplin from Chinden is now open at Joplin's east and west entrances. Work on this project is expected to be complete in early December, weather permitting. This is the second phase of a project to widen Chinden Boulevard to four lanes and a center turn lane from Eagle Road through Garden City. The final section, between Hewlett-Packard's main entrance and Cloverdale Road, is scheduled for construction in 2007.
Blacks Creek Rest Area
Western Construction is the contractor on a $10.2 million project to rebuild this Interstate 84 rest area, located about 10 miles east of Boise. When finished, the site will include new bathrooms, a picnic area with tables and seating and new landscaping. Intermittent lane closures are tentatively scheduled in the eastbound and westbound lanes in early- to mid-December. One lane in each direction will remain open. The speed limit is reduced from 75 mph to 65 mph through the construction area.
CANYON COUNTY
Interstate 84, Karcher Interchange, Nampa
Central Paving Inc. is building this new I-84 Interchange in Nampa. Motorists on Karcher Road that are northeast of the Nampa-Caldwell Boulevard are asked to use Midland Boulevard to reach Nampa-Caldwell Boulevard. The westbound and eastbound lanes of Nampa-Caldwell Boulevard are open. Karcher Road in front of the Edwards Theatres Nampa Stadium 14 is also open. A ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the completion of the interchange is on Tuesday, Dec. 12. The interchange will be open for traffic after the ceremony.
Interstate 84, Caldwell Franklin Interchange
The Franklin Road Interchange is being reconstructed to improve access to Caldwell from I-84, improve traffic flow, and ease congestion. The reconstruction, which starts in early December, will improve several aspects of the interchange. The current two-lane Franklin Overpass will be replaced with a six-lane bridge. The new overpass will have two through lanes in each direction and dual left turn lanes in each direction. The interchange ramps will be lengthened and widened to two lanes at their intersection with Franklin. Franklin Road will be widened from two to five lanes between the overpass and Specht Avenue. The improved road will have a curb, gutter, sidewalk, bicycle lanes and shoulder. Aviation Way will be widened at the intersection with Franklin Road. A new traffic signal will be added. Lanes may be reduced temporarily on Franklin Road and Aviation Way during the widening. Both roads will remain open during construction. One or both lanes of I-84 may be closed between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. for safety while crews rebuild the overpass. Traffic will be detoured. While crews build a new storm sewer, 21st Avenue will be closed temporarily. Traffic will use temporary ramps while the old ramps are reconstructed. A new bridge and three new lanes will be constructed before the old overpass is torn down and traffic will use the new three lanes while crews rebuild the old bridge. At the project's completion, all six new lanes will be opened. Traffic updates will be posted to ITD's 511 service (511.Idaho.gov, or dial 511). Concrete Placing Co. is the contractor for the $25 million project. Construction is scheduled to be finished in the fall of 2008.
Idaho 55, Marsing to Sunnyslope Curve
The road will be widened to five lanes with guardrail, irrigation, drainage facilities and a new canal bridge added in this three-mile section of Idaho 55. Motorists will be assisted through the work zone by traffic control devices and flaggers. The speed limit is reduced to 45 mph in the work zone. Idaho Sand & Gravel is the contractor for this $6.1 million project that will be finished in spring 2007.
ELMORE COUNTY
8th Street North widening, Mountain Home
This project will reconstruct and widen a .42-mile section of 8th Street North in Mountain Home. Between the canal and American Legion Boulevard, 8th Street North is open to traffic until early summer 2007. The work is expected to be finished next year.