5/25/2007
Southwest Idaho highway construction report for May 25 - June 1
BOISE - Following is an update on highway construction projects in southwest Idaho.
ADA COUNTY
Interstate 84 Eagle westbound off-ramp rebuilding
Construction started March 29 on a project to improve and widen the I-84 westbound off-ramp at Eagle Road. Improvements include a new off-ramp lane that will lengthen the ramp 1,600 feet. The ramp will divide into dual left and dual right turn lanes for turning south and north onto Eagle Road. A traffic signal will be added to the right turn lanes. Once completed, the widened off-ramp will improve traffic flow at the intersection with Eagle Road, and reduce the amount of traffic that backs up while exiting I-84. Crews are working an aggressive schedule, including some nighttime work, to minimize impacts to motorists. Work to widen the left side of the off-ramp is finished, and crews are now working on the right side of the ramp. Work on the island at the intersection with Eagle Road will begin in mid-June. The westbound off-ramp will remain open to motorists, but the transportation department urges commuters to plan extra time while traveling in the project area or use an alternate route. The outside shoulder on westbound I-84 will be closed to exiting vehicles during some construction. During the final weeks of the project, the outside lane of westbound I-84 will be closed between the Cloverdale Overpass and the Eagle Road Interchange. The transportation department will notify the public before the lane closes. Updates also will be available through the department's 511 service (call 5-1-1, or visit 511.Idaho.gov). The project is scheduled to be finished in late 2007.
Locust Grove Overpass construction
Work started in December 2006 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 inside lane of the eastbound and westbound sections near the construction site closed March 22. The closure, for construction of the center overpass pier, will be in place into October. Eastbound traffic normally goes from two lanes to four lanes at the Meridian Interchange. With the closure, eastbound traffic will go from two lanes to three lanes at Meridian, then broaden to four lanes after the work zone at Locust Grove. Westbound traffic normally goes from four lanes to two lanes at the Meridian Interchange. With the closure, westbound traffic will be reduced to three lanes prior to the work zone at Locust Grove, then to the usual two lanes at Meridian. There is temporary concrete guardrail around the lane closures to protect the work zone, and the speed limit is reduced from 65 miles per hour to 55 miles per hour. 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 2006, and continued through January, February and into March. Concrete Placing Co. of Boise is the contractor on the $5,845,000 project.
Cloverdale Road Overpass repairs
The Interstate 84 Cloverdale Road Overpass will close to all vehicles, pedestrians and bicycles, beginning Wednesday, May 30, at 9 a.m. The bridge was damaged in July 2006 when it was struck by an over-height vehicle traveling eastbound on I-84. The project will remove and replace two bridge girders that were severely damaged in the collision. The bridge is expected to reopen with the project's completion in early July 2007. During construction, Cloverdale between Overland Road and I-84, and between Franklin Road and I-84, will be open to local traffic only. Traffic will be detoured to Eagle Road via Franklin and Overland roads. Eastbound I-84 will be closed to nighttime traffic between the Eagle Road Interchange and I-184 (the Connector) on June 1 and 2 from midnight to 5 a.m. Signage will direct traffic around the project area, using Franklin Road as a detour route. Through the work zone, eastbound I-84 traffic will have a reduced speed limit of 55 mph, closed shoulders and periodic nighttime lane reductions. The inside westbound shoulder also will be closed, though no speed reduction or lane closures will occur on the westbound interstate. McAlvain Construction is the contractor on this $442,000 project.
U.S. 20/26 (Chinden Boulevard), Cloverdale Road to Hewlett-Packard widening
A project to widen Chinden Boulevard (U.S. 20/26) between Cloverdale Road and Hewlett-Packard is under way. Construction activity on the project will be suspended over the Memorial Day weekend, beginning Friday morning, May 25, and resuming Tuesday morning, May 29. Visitor access to the Joplin Cemetery remains open. During the Memorial Day weekend, signs will direct motorists to the parking area at the cemetery's east entrance. The Cloverdale/Chinden intersection will close Saturday, June 2, and Sunday, June 3, to allow for roadway excavation and reconstruction. The closure will likely begin after the Friday evening commute on June 1, and reopen to morning traffic on Monday, June 4. No turns from Chinden onto Cloverdale, or from Cloverdale onto Chinden, will be allowed during the closure. Chinden will remain open to two-way traffic, and access to the Hewlett-Packard Cloverdale entrance will remain open for northbound motorists on Cloverdale. An additional one-day closure also is expected at a later date for final paving. In early July, traffic will shift to using newly built lanes on the south side of Chinden to allow crews to work on Chinden's north side. Throughout the project, one lane of traffic will be maintained in each direction during daytime hours. Periodic nighttime lane closures can be expected between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. Access to businesses and residences will be maintained. Joplin Road is closed from its western intersection with Chinden (near Cloverdale Road) to Ancell Lane. Motorists can access Joplin at its eastern intersection with Chinden (near Mountain View Drive). The Chinden project will add bicycle lanes to both sides of the roadway. Curb, gutter and sidewalk will be installed along the south side of the road. By the project's completion, pedestrian and bicycle facilities will extend from Eagle Road to the Joplin Road/Mountain View Drive intersection. In addition, a new half-mile-long frontage road will provide access to homes on the north side of Chinden between the west end of Joplin and H-P. As a result, the Chinden/Joplin intersection will be reconfigured. To expedite the project, crews will work an aggressive schedule, including some night and weekend hours. Central Paving Inc. of Boise is the contractor on this $5.5 million project. Work is expected to be complete in late 2007.
CANYON COUNTY
Interstate 84, Franklin Interchange, Caldwell rebuilding
The Franklin Road Interchange is being rebuilt to improve access to Caldwell from I-84, improve traffic flow and ease congestion. On Thursday, May 24, the right lane of eastbound I-84 closed in the construction area. The closure, scheduled to last a month, is allowing crews to work on the lengthening and widening of the eastbound on-ramp from Franklin Road onto Interstate 84. The I-84 left lane will remain open at all times. There also will be lane changes on Franklin Road. On Friday, May 25, after the morning commute, traffic was shifted to the southside lanes from the northern lanes on the section of Franklin that runs from the Flying J truck plaza to the westbound off- and on-ramps at the interchange. The interchange rebuilding project, which started in early December 2006, will enhance 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 are being lengthened and widened to two lanes at their intersection with Franklin. Work on this part of the project started April 10. Eastbound on-ramp traffic from Franklin Road onto Interstate 84 is using a temporary ramp. Westbound off-ramp traffic from Interstate 84 onto Franklin Road also is using a temporary ramp, just west of the current ramp. Both temporary ramps are a single lane each. Those ramps, scheduled to be in place for several months, will allow crews to rebuild the closed ramps. Once finished, the new ramps will offer two lanes each. The eastbound off-ramp and westbound on-ramp will have traffic shifted to temporary ramps at a later time. The project also involves widening Franklin Road 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 also 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 replace the overpass. Traffic will be detoured. 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 replace the old bridge. At the project's completion, all six new lanes will be opened. Traffic updates will be posted to the transportation department's 511 service (511.Idaho.gov, or dial 5-1-1). Concrete Placing Co. is the contractor for the $25 million project. Construction is scheduled to be finished in the fall of 2008.
I-84B Blaine Street/Cleveland Boulevard repaving
Crews will replace curb and gutter on Caldwell's Blaine Street and Cleveland Boulevard, from 10th Avenue to 22nd Avenue. During curb and gutter replacement, traffic will be periodically reduced to one lane. Work is scheduled on each roadway independently, though some construction activities may be performed simultaneously, creating traffic restrictions on both Blaine and Cleveland for a short time. Some street parking will be temporarily eliminated as the project progresses. Signs will alert motorists in advance of parking restrictions. The $1.8 million project also will improve drainage and eliminate dips at side street intersections. Curb and gutter work is expected to last approximately three months. Braun-Jensen Incorporated is the project contractor. Following completion of curb and gutter replacement, work will begin on a companion project on Blaine and Cleveland, from 10th Avenue South to just east of South Florida Avenue. The project will reconstruct the roadway and pave to the edge of the new curb and gutter. Central Paving Company Inc. is the contractor for the $2.8 million project. During the roadway rebuild, parking and lane restrictions also will be necessary. To expedite the project, crews will work an aggressive schedule, which may include some night and weekend work. Additional details will be forthcoming as this project nears. Access to residences and businesses will be maintained during both projects. Completion is scheduled for late 2007. Both projects will result in improved sidewalk access. Americans with Disabilities Act compliant pedestrian ramps will be installed at sidewalk street corners and ramps will be aligned to the center of crosswalks for easier access. Blaine Street and Cleveland Boulevard (Interstate 84 Business Route) are the two major east/west corridors that move traffic through a residential area to a commercial area farther east. These streets also are collectors for side streets and have a heavy traffic flow, particularly during rush hours.
Interstate 84, Notus Interchange to Sand Hollow Interchange repaving
Work started May 7 to rebuild a deteriorated section of Interstate 84 between the Sand Hollow and Notus interchanges. The $14 million project is anticipated to be finished this fall. It will repair rutting and deterioration, and extend the life of the roadway. Pavement in the project area was originally built with the interstate in the 1960s, and received minor maintenance in 1985 and 1997. In May, equipment will be moved into the project area where two crossovers will be built to shift interstate traffic and a portion of the detour area will be paved. The project's first phase begins in early June, and consists of closing the Exit 26 (Notus Interchange) westbound off-ramp and eastbound on-ramp for repaving. Ramp traffic will be detoured to Old Highway 30 during the ramp closures. During the second phase, scheduled to start in late June, all I-84 traffic will be shifted to the eastbound lanes and reduced from four to two lanes, while crews work on the westbound lanes. The westbound on- and off-ramp at Exit 25 (Idaho 44, Middleton Interchange), the westbound off-ramp at Exit 17 (Sand Hollow Interchange) and the westbound on-ramp at Exit 26 (Notus Interchange) will all be closed. Ramp traffic will be detoured to Old Highway 30. The eastbound section will then close to be repaved, and traffic shifted to the newly paved westbound section, which will be one lane in each direction. During the eastbound closure, the eastbound on-ramp at Exit 17 (Sand Hollow Interchange), the eastbound off-ramp and on-ramp at Exit 25 (Idaho 44, Middleton Interchange) and the eastbound off-ramp at Exit 26 (Notus Interchange) will be closed. Ramp traffic will be detoured to Old Highway 30. The speed limit will be reduced to 55 miles per hour through the construction area.
PAYETTE COUNTY
Idaho 52 repaving
Three sections of Idaho 52 at milepost 8.33, milepost 11.02, and milepost 28.35 will have paving work done as part of a pipe replacement project. The repaving will be on Wednesday, May 30, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Idaho 52 will be reduced to one lane at those mileposts, and flaggers will direct motorists through the areas. Motorists are advised to expect temporary delays.
VALLEY COUNTY
Idaho 55 Rainbow Bridge rebuilding
Improvements to the historic Idaho 55 Rainbow Bridge north of Smiths Ferry resumed Monday, April 23. Traffic crossing the bridge will be restricted to one lane on weekdays from noon Mondays through noon Fridays. During the Memorial Day weekend, both lanes will be open to traffic from noon Friday through noon Tuesday. Motorists traveling outside these times should expect delays of up to 15 minutes. Combined tractor and trailer loads over 78 feet long or 12 feet wide should use U.S. 95 as an alternate route beginning April 30. The speed limit through the work zone will be reduced to 25 mph.
ADA COUNTY
Interstate 84 Eagle westbound off-ramp rebuilding
Construction started March 29 on a project to improve and widen the I-84 westbound off-ramp at Eagle Road. Improvements include a new off-ramp lane that will lengthen the ramp 1,600 feet. The ramp will divide into dual left and dual right turn lanes for turning south and north onto Eagle Road. A traffic signal will be added to the right turn lanes. Once completed, the widened off-ramp will improve traffic flow at the intersection with Eagle Road, and reduce the amount of traffic that backs up while exiting I-84. Crews are working an aggressive schedule, including some nighttime work, to minimize impacts to motorists. Work to widen the left side of the off-ramp is finished, and crews are now working on the right side of the ramp. Work on the island at the intersection with Eagle Road will begin in mid-June. The westbound off-ramp will remain open to motorists, but the transportation department urges commuters to plan extra time while traveling in the project area or use an alternate route. The outside shoulder on westbound I-84 will be closed to exiting vehicles during some construction. During the final weeks of the project, the outside lane of westbound I-84 will be closed between the Cloverdale Overpass and the Eagle Road Interchange. The transportation department will notify the public before the lane closes. Updates also will be available through the department's 511 service (call 5-1-1, or visit 511.Idaho.gov). The project is scheduled to be finished in late 2007.
Locust Grove Overpass construction
Work started in December 2006 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 inside lane of the eastbound and westbound sections near the construction site closed March 22. The closure, for construction of the center overpass pier, will be in place into October. Eastbound traffic normally goes from two lanes to four lanes at the Meridian Interchange. With the closure, eastbound traffic will go from two lanes to three lanes at Meridian, then broaden to four lanes after the work zone at Locust Grove. Westbound traffic normally goes from four lanes to two lanes at the Meridian Interchange. With the closure, westbound traffic will be reduced to three lanes prior to the work zone at Locust Grove, then to the usual two lanes at Meridian. There is temporary concrete guardrail around the lane closures to protect the work zone, and the speed limit is reduced from 65 miles per hour to 55 miles per hour. 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 2006, and continued through January, February and into March. Concrete Placing Co. of Boise is the contractor on the $5,845,000 project.
Cloverdale Road Overpass repairs
The Interstate 84 Cloverdale Road Overpass will close to all vehicles, pedestrians and bicycles, beginning Wednesday, May 30, at 9 a.m. The bridge was damaged in July 2006 when it was struck by an over-height vehicle traveling eastbound on I-84. The project will remove and replace two bridge girders that were severely damaged in the collision. The bridge is expected to reopen with the project's completion in early July 2007. During construction, Cloverdale between Overland Road and I-84, and between Franklin Road and I-84, will be open to local traffic only. Traffic will be detoured to Eagle Road via Franklin and Overland roads. Eastbound I-84 will be closed to nighttime traffic between the Eagle Road Interchange and I-184 (the Connector) on June 1 and 2 from midnight to 5 a.m. Signage will direct traffic around the project area, using Franklin Road as a detour route. Through the work zone, eastbound I-84 traffic will have a reduced speed limit of 55 mph, closed shoulders and periodic nighttime lane reductions. The inside westbound shoulder also will be closed, though no speed reduction or lane closures will occur on the westbound interstate. McAlvain Construction is the contractor on this $442,000 project.
U.S. 20/26 (Chinden Boulevard), Cloverdale Road to Hewlett-Packard widening
A project to widen Chinden Boulevard (U.S. 20/26) between Cloverdale Road and Hewlett-Packard is under way. Construction activity on the project will be suspended over the Memorial Day weekend, beginning Friday morning, May 25, and resuming Tuesday morning, May 29. Visitor access to the Joplin Cemetery remains open. During the Memorial Day weekend, signs will direct motorists to the parking area at the cemetery's east entrance. The Cloverdale/Chinden intersection will close Saturday, June 2, and Sunday, June 3, to allow for roadway excavation and reconstruction. The closure will likely begin after the Friday evening commute on June 1, and reopen to morning traffic on Monday, June 4. No turns from Chinden onto Cloverdale, or from Cloverdale onto Chinden, will be allowed during the closure. Chinden will remain open to two-way traffic, and access to the Hewlett-Packard Cloverdale entrance will remain open for northbound motorists on Cloverdale. An additional one-day closure also is expected at a later date for final paving. In early July, traffic will shift to using newly built lanes on the south side of Chinden to allow crews to work on Chinden's north side. Throughout the project, one lane of traffic will be maintained in each direction during daytime hours. Periodic nighttime lane closures can be expected between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. Access to businesses and residences will be maintained. Joplin Road is closed from its western intersection with Chinden (near Cloverdale Road) to Ancell Lane. Motorists can access Joplin at its eastern intersection with Chinden (near Mountain View Drive). The Chinden project will add bicycle lanes to both sides of the roadway. Curb, gutter and sidewalk will be installed along the south side of the road. By the project's completion, pedestrian and bicycle facilities will extend from Eagle Road to the Joplin Road/Mountain View Drive intersection. In addition, a new half-mile-long frontage road will provide access to homes on the north side of Chinden between the west end of Joplin and H-P. As a result, the Chinden/Joplin intersection will be reconfigured. To expedite the project, crews will work an aggressive schedule, including some night and weekend hours. Central Paving Inc. of Boise is the contractor on this $5.5 million project. Work is expected to be complete in late 2007.
CANYON COUNTY
Interstate 84, Franklin Interchange, Caldwell rebuilding
The Franklin Road Interchange is being rebuilt to improve access to Caldwell from I-84, improve traffic flow and ease congestion. On Thursday, May 24, the right lane of eastbound I-84 closed in the construction area. The closure, scheduled to last a month, is allowing crews to work on the lengthening and widening of the eastbound on-ramp from Franklin Road onto Interstate 84. The I-84 left lane will remain open at all times. There also will be lane changes on Franklin Road. On Friday, May 25, after the morning commute, traffic was shifted to the southside lanes from the northern lanes on the section of Franklin that runs from the Flying J truck plaza to the westbound off- and on-ramps at the interchange. The interchange rebuilding project, which started in early December 2006, will enhance 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 are being lengthened and widened to two lanes at their intersection with Franklin. Work on this part of the project started April 10. Eastbound on-ramp traffic from Franklin Road onto Interstate 84 is using a temporary ramp. Westbound off-ramp traffic from Interstate 84 onto Franklin Road also is using a temporary ramp, just west of the current ramp. Both temporary ramps are a single lane each. Those ramps, scheduled to be in place for several months, will allow crews to rebuild the closed ramps. Once finished, the new ramps will offer two lanes each. The eastbound off-ramp and westbound on-ramp will have traffic shifted to temporary ramps at a later time. The project also involves widening Franklin Road 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 also 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 replace the overpass. Traffic will be detoured. 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 replace the old bridge. At the project's completion, all six new lanes will be opened. Traffic updates will be posted to the transportation department's 511 service (511.Idaho.gov, or dial 5-1-1). Concrete Placing Co. is the contractor for the $25 million project. Construction is scheduled to be finished in the fall of 2008.
I-84B Blaine Street/Cleveland Boulevard repaving
Crews will replace curb and gutter on Caldwell's Blaine Street and Cleveland Boulevard, from 10th Avenue to 22nd Avenue. During curb and gutter replacement, traffic will be periodically reduced to one lane. Work is scheduled on each roadway independently, though some construction activities may be performed simultaneously, creating traffic restrictions on both Blaine and Cleveland for a short time. Some street parking will be temporarily eliminated as the project progresses. Signs will alert motorists in advance of parking restrictions. The $1.8 million project also will improve drainage and eliminate dips at side street intersections. Curb and gutter work is expected to last approximately three months. Braun-Jensen Incorporated is the project contractor. Following completion of curb and gutter replacement, work will begin on a companion project on Blaine and Cleveland, from 10th Avenue South to just east of South Florida Avenue. The project will reconstruct the roadway and pave to the edge of the new curb and gutter. Central Paving Company Inc. is the contractor for the $2.8 million project. During the roadway rebuild, parking and lane restrictions also will be necessary. To expedite the project, crews will work an aggressive schedule, which may include some night and weekend work. Additional details will be forthcoming as this project nears. Access to residences and businesses will be maintained during both projects. Completion is scheduled for late 2007. Both projects will result in improved sidewalk access. Americans with Disabilities Act compliant pedestrian ramps will be installed at sidewalk street corners and ramps will be aligned to the center of crosswalks for easier access. Blaine Street and Cleveland Boulevard (Interstate 84 Business Route) are the two major east/west corridors that move traffic through a residential area to a commercial area farther east. These streets also are collectors for side streets and have a heavy traffic flow, particularly during rush hours.
Interstate 84, Notus Interchange to Sand Hollow Interchange repaving
Work started May 7 to rebuild a deteriorated section of Interstate 84 between the Sand Hollow and Notus interchanges. The $14 million project is anticipated to be finished this fall. It will repair rutting and deterioration, and extend the life of the roadway. Pavement in the project area was originally built with the interstate in the 1960s, and received minor maintenance in 1985 and 1997. In May, equipment will be moved into the project area where two crossovers will be built to shift interstate traffic and a portion of the detour area will be paved. The project's first phase begins in early June, and consists of closing the Exit 26 (Notus Interchange) westbound off-ramp and eastbound on-ramp for repaving. Ramp traffic will be detoured to Old Highway 30 during the ramp closures. During the second phase, scheduled to start in late June, all I-84 traffic will be shifted to the eastbound lanes and reduced from four to two lanes, while crews work on the westbound lanes. The westbound on- and off-ramp at Exit 25 (Idaho 44, Middleton Interchange), the westbound off-ramp at Exit 17 (Sand Hollow Interchange) and the westbound on-ramp at Exit 26 (Notus Interchange) will all be closed. Ramp traffic will be detoured to Old Highway 30. The eastbound section will then close to be repaved, and traffic shifted to the newly paved westbound section, which will be one lane in each direction. During the eastbound closure, the eastbound on-ramp at Exit 17 (Sand Hollow Interchange), the eastbound off-ramp and on-ramp at Exit 25 (Idaho 44, Middleton Interchange) and the eastbound off-ramp at Exit 26 (Notus Interchange) will be closed. Ramp traffic will be detoured to Old Highway 30. The speed limit will be reduced to 55 miles per hour through the construction area.
PAYETTE COUNTY
Idaho 52 repaving
Three sections of Idaho 52 at milepost 8.33, milepost 11.02, and milepost 28.35 will have paving work done as part of a pipe replacement project. The repaving will be on Wednesday, May 30, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Idaho 52 will be reduced to one lane at those mileposts, and flaggers will direct motorists through the areas. Motorists are advised to expect temporary delays.
VALLEY COUNTY
Idaho 55 Rainbow Bridge rebuilding
Improvements to the historic Idaho 55 Rainbow Bridge north of Smiths Ferry resumed Monday, April 23. Traffic crossing the bridge will be restricted to one lane on weekdays from noon Mondays through noon Fridays. During the Memorial Day weekend, both lanes will be open to traffic from noon Friday through noon Tuesday. Motorists traveling outside these times should expect delays of up to 15 minutes. Combined tractor and trailer loads over 78 feet long or 12 feet wide should use U.S. 95 as an alternate route beginning April 30. The speed limit through the work zone will be reduced to 25 mph.