1/5/2007
Southwest Idaho highway construction report for Jan. 5 - Jan. 12
BOISE - Following is an update on highway construction projects in southwest Idaho.
ADA COUNTY
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. All eastbound and westbound lanes are open as they pass the construction area. A speed limit reduction is no longer in effect. Remaining work is taking place away from interstate lanes and is on the rest area's grounds.
Locust Grove Overpass
Work started in December on a new overpass that will connect Locust Grove Road and offer an extended route over Interstate 84 between Eagle Road and Meridian Road. Currently, Locust Grove Road south of Interstate 84 ends near the interstate. The north side of Locust Grove Road also ends near Interstate 84. The new overpass, scheduled to be finished in the spring of 2008, will consist of two lanes in each direction, sidewalks and bike lanes on both sides of the overpass. Utility and irrigation work started in early December, and will continue through January and February. Construction on the overpass will start in the spring. Minimal impacts to traffic are anticipated during construction. Girders, placed during the night-time hours, may reduce interstate traffic to single lanes. Concrete Placing Company Inc. of Boise is the contractor for the $5,845,000 project.
CANYON COUNTY
Interstate 84, Franklin Interchange, Caldwell
The Franklin Road Interchange is being reconstructed to improve access to Caldwell from I-84, improve traffic flow, and ease congestion. There will be minor delays on Interstate 84 on Sunday, Jan. 7, and Sunday, Jan. 14, for blasting work close to the interchange. The blasting, scheduled to occur between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. on both Sundays, will be in the median of Interstate 84. The work is expected to last between 5 and 10 minutes on both Sundays. On Jan. 7, blasting will be done just east of the existing bridge to remove basalt in the median area. Eastbound and westbound motorists on Interstate 84 will be escorted through the area by pilot cars and stopped by flaggers prior to the Franklin Interchange to ensure the area is clear for blasting. Motorists on Franklin will be stopped by flaggers. Traffic impacts are expected to last 5 to 10 minutes. The left-hand lane, or inside lane, on Interstate 84 in both directions will close in the Franklin Interchange area starting at 7 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 7, for the work. The lanes will reopen Monday morning at 5 a.m. Motorists will be asked to turn off two-way radios and cell phones as they travel through the construction area between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. on both Sundays. The reconstruction project, which started 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. Traffic will use temporary interstate on- and off-ramps while the old ramps are rebuilt. Franklin Road will be widened from two to five lanes between the overpass and Specht Avenue. The new 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 also 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 temporarily closed. 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. Access to Sunnyslope Road (Idaho 55) from Pear Lane closed on Dec. 18 to allow crews to build a new bridge over the Low Line Canal. The alternate access route to the south is at Apricot Road using Frost Road. The alternate access to the north is Hoskins Road using Frost Road. Both alternate routes will be signed as detours. The closure is expected to last until late February. Idaho Sand & Gravel is the contractor for this $6.1 million project that will be finished in spring 2007.
ADA COUNTY
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. All eastbound and westbound lanes are open as they pass the construction area. A speed limit reduction is no longer in effect. Remaining work is taking place away from interstate lanes and is on the rest area's grounds.
Locust Grove Overpass
Work started in December on a new overpass that will connect Locust Grove Road and offer an extended route over Interstate 84 between Eagle Road and Meridian Road. Currently, Locust Grove Road south of Interstate 84 ends near the interstate. The north side of Locust Grove Road also ends near Interstate 84. The new overpass, scheduled to be finished in the spring of 2008, will consist of two lanes in each direction, sidewalks and bike lanes on both sides of the overpass. Utility and irrigation work started in early December, and will continue through January and February. Construction on the overpass will start in the spring. Minimal impacts to traffic are anticipated during construction. Girders, placed during the night-time hours, may reduce interstate traffic to single lanes. Concrete Placing Company Inc. of Boise is the contractor for the $5,845,000 project.
CANYON COUNTY
Interstate 84, Franklin Interchange, Caldwell
The Franklin Road Interchange is being reconstructed to improve access to Caldwell from I-84, improve traffic flow, and ease congestion. There will be minor delays on Interstate 84 on Sunday, Jan. 7, and Sunday, Jan. 14, for blasting work close to the interchange. The blasting, scheduled to occur between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. on both Sundays, will be in the median of Interstate 84. The work is expected to last between 5 and 10 minutes on both Sundays. On Jan. 7, blasting will be done just east of the existing bridge to remove basalt in the median area. Eastbound and westbound motorists on Interstate 84 will be escorted through the area by pilot cars and stopped by flaggers prior to the Franklin Interchange to ensure the area is clear for blasting. Motorists on Franklin will be stopped by flaggers. Traffic impacts are expected to last 5 to 10 minutes. The left-hand lane, or inside lane, on Interstate 84 in both directions will close in the Franklin Interchange area starting at 7 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 7, for the work. The lanes will reopen Monday morning at 5 a.m. Motorists will be asked to turn off two-way radios and cell phones as they travel through the construction area between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. on both Sundays. The reconstruction project, which started 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. Traffic will use temporary interstate on- and off-ramps while the old ramps are rebuilt. Franklin Road will be widened from two to five lanes between the overpass and Specht Avenue. The new 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 also 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 temporarily closed. 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. Access to Sunnyslope Road (Idaho 55) from Pear Lane closed on Dec. 18 to allow crews to build a new bridge over the Low Line Canal. The alternate access route to the south is at Apricot Road using Frost Road. The alternate access to the north is Hoskins Road using Frost Road. Both alternate routes will be signed as detours. The closure is expected to last until late February. Idaho Sand & Gravel is the contractor for this $6.1 million project that will be finished in spring 2007.