6/8/2007
Southwest Idaho highway construction report for June 8 - June 15
BOISE - Following is an update on highway construction projects in southwest Idaho.
ADA COUNTY
State Street intersections repaving
The State Street (Idaho 44) intersections with Glenwood Boulevard and Eagle Road will undergo construction work to smooth them out and repair deterioration starting June 10. A rotomill will be used to grind off bumps in pavement. A paving machine will then fill in any low spots and smooth the intersections. Work will start at the State Street/Glenwood Boulevard intersection on Sunday (June 10) at 6 a.m. and is expected to conclude late Monday (June 11). Work will start on the State Street/Eagle Road intersection at about 11 a.m. on Sunday (June 10) and should be finished Wednesday (June 13). The intersections will remain open during the grinding and paving work but motorists should expect delays.
Interstate 84 Eagle westbound off-ramp rebuilding
Construction started March 29 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. Crews currently are working on widening 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 closed to all vehicles, pedestrians and bicycles for repairs on May 30. 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. During construction, Cloverdale between Overland Road and I-84, and between Franklin Road and I-84, is open to local traffic only. Closed shoulders and periodic nighttime lane reductions can be expected. The inside westbound shoulder is closed, though no speed reduction or lane closures will occur on the westbound interstate. The bridge is expected to reopen with the project's completion in early July 2007. McAlvain Construction is the contractor on the $442,000 project.
U.S. 20/26 (Chinden Boulevard), Cloverdale Road to Hewlett-Packard widening
Work is under way to widen U.S. 20/26 from Hewlett-Packard to Cloverdale Road. Chinden Boulevard traffic between Cloverdale Road and Hewlett-Packard will shift to newly-constructed lanes on the south side of Chinden beginning June 19, weather permitting. The traffic shift will allow crews to work on the north side of Chinden as part of a widening project. Throughout the work zone, one lane of traffic is maintained in each direction during daytime hours. Periodic nighttime lane closures can be expected between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. Flaggers will guide motorists through the work zone. Access to businesses and residences will be maintained. Prior to the traffic shift, crews will construct base asphalt pavement on the south side of the roadway. This will require a temporary closure of the Hewlett-Packard (H-P) main entrance beginning Thursday morning (June 14). The gate will reopen to traffic the following Tuesday morning (June 19). An additional one-day closure of the H-P main gate will be required for final paving (likely in late September, date not yet determined). Left turns into the H-P main entrance will also be restored by June 19. Motorists can access H-P from either the Five Mile or Cloverdale entrances. Night and weekend traffic is required to use the Cloverdale entrance on the west side of the H-P campus. Joplin Road is closed from the Chinden/Cloverdale intersection to Ancell Lane. Motorists can access Joplin at its eastern intersection with Chinden (near Mountain View Drive). Following completion of drainage work and pipe installation, the City of Boise will install underground sewer lines in the same area. After sewer work is complete, the Ada County Highway District plans to resurface Joplin Road. 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.
BOISE COUNTY
Dunnigan Creek Bridge
Construction started in June to replace the Dunnigan Creek Bridge over Mores Creek. The bridge is located 14 miles south of Idaho City and seven miles north of High Bridge. Dunnigan Creek Bridge will be torn down and replaced with a taller, wider structure. The bridge is at least 70 years old. The new bridge will include new guardrail to improve safety. Slope stabilization will also be done along Idaho 21 before and after the bridge. There will be a temporary crossing over Mores Creek while the new bridge is built. The temporary crossing will maintain one lane in each direction for motorists. The speed limit in the construction area will be reduced to 25 miles per hour from 45 miles per hour, and signs will be posted informing motorists of the speed reduction. Approximately June 12, rock blasting and scaling work will start. The scaling is done to remove loose rocks from adjacent slopes. Traffic will be stopped at approximately 15-minute intervals for the scaling and rock removal. On June 18, excavation work is currently scheduled to begin on the downstream side of the bridge to enhance an existing wetland site. The work is done to fulfill environmental requirements. There may be some construction activity on weekends. The work is scheduled to be finished late this year. McAlvain Excavation is the contractor on the $2.3 million project.
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. Specht Avenue will close from Monday (June 11) to Wednesday (June 13) while crews reconstruct the intersection of Franklin Road and Specht Avenue. The closure will begin at 7 a.m. Monday and end at 5 p.m. Wednesday. Work will require excavating and removing old materials to completely rebuild the intersection. All business access will remain open. Local traffic can access businesses on Specht through a detour from Franklin Road to Commercial Way. Signs will be posted to advise motorists of the detour. Due to the extensive excavation, emergency vehicles will not be able to travel through the intersection of Specht Way and Franklin Road. On 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. 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.
Interstate 84 resurfacing
Work will start Monday (June 11) to resurface the section of Interstate 84 that crosses over Linden Road. The construction project will resurface the bridge deck above Linden Road to improve driving conditions on I-84, and upgrade guardrail to improve safety on the highway. The speed limit on Interstate 84 will be reduced to 55 miles per hour. The I-84 section that crosses over Linden Road is east of the Exit 29/Franklin Interchange reconstruction project, and is between milepost 28 and milepost 31. Motorists are advised to expect lane restrictions in the eastbound and westbound sections of I-84. Traffic management is being coordinated with the Exit 29/Franklin Interchange rebuilding project to minimize impacts to motorists. There will not be impacts to motorists using Linden Road. The $780,000 project is scheduled to be finished in early August 2007.
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 is 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 are working an aggressive schedule, which may include some night and weekend work. 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.
I-84B Nampa/Caldwell Boulevard resurfacing
The Idaho Transportation Department will begin reconstructing two miles of Nampa/Caldwell Boulevard (I-84B) on June 10 between Karcher Road and Northside Boulevard. The project will improve the road surface for commuters and local traffic entering downtown Nampa. In a partnership with the city of Nampa, the transportation department will add sidewalks, curb and gutter to the north side of the roadway. The city and its local improvement district will cover the cost of the additions. The majority of road work will occur at night. Two lanes in both directions will be open during certain times of the day, and there will be intermittent lane reductions to one lane of travel in each direction. At night and during some early-summer utility work, one lane may be closed in each direction. Access to businesses will remain open. The resurfacing is a companion project to the I-84 Karcher Interchange, which opened at the end of the 2006 construction season. The transportation department scheduled the boulevard resurfacing after the interchange project to give commuters another route during peak travel times. The boulevard surface has long outlived its 20-year lifespan and is badly deteriorated. Central Paving Co. of Boise is the contractor for the $5 million project.
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. 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. The project's first phase started in late May. It involved closing the Exit 26 (Notus Interchange) westbound off-ramp on May 30. It is scheduled to reopen June 20. On June 7, the Exit 26 eastbound on-ramp closed for repaving. It is scheduled to reopen June 22. Ramp traffic is being detoured to Old Highway 30 and the Middleton Interchange (Exit 25) during the ramp closures. In May, equipment was moved into the project area where two crossovers are being built to shift interstate traffic and a portion of the detour area will be paved. During the second phase, scheduled to start in late June, all I-84 traffic will be shifted to the eastbound lanes and reduced from two lanes to one lane in each direction in the eastbound section. The shift will allow crews to 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. Idaho Sand & Gravel is the contractor on the $14 million project, scheduled to be finished this fall.
ELMORE COUNTY
U.S. 20 repaving
Repaving started June 4 on a section of U.S. 20 between milepost 112.9 and milepost 124.6. Traffic will be directed through the area by a pilot car. The speed limit was reduced to 55 miles per hour starting June 4, and to 45 miles per hour at specific work zones. There will be intermittent lane reductions to one lane in the repaving area. The repaving is scheduled to finish in early August.
VALLEY COUNTY
Idaho 55 Rainbow Bridge rebuilding
Improvements to the historic Idaho 55 Rainbow Bridge north of Smiths Ferry resumed April 23. Traffic crossing the bridge will be restricted to one lane on weekdays from noon Mondays through noon Fridays. Combined tractor and trailer loads over 78 feet long or 12 feet wide should use U.S. 95 as an alternate route starting April 30. The speed limit through the work zone will be reduced to 25 mph.
Dial 5-1-1 for 24-hour highway driving conditions or visit the Idaho Transportation Department's Internet site at 511.idaho.gov.
ADA COUNTY
State Street intersections repaving
The State Street (Idaho 44) intersections with Glenwood Boulevard and Eagle Road will undergo construction work to smooth them out and repair deterioration starting June 10. A rotomill will be used to grind off bumps in pavement. A paving machine will then fill in any low spots and smooth the intersections. Work will start at the State Street/Glenwood Boulevard intersection on Sunday (June 10) at 6 a.m. and is expected to conclude late Monday (June 11). Work will start on the State Street/Eagle Road intersection at about 11 a.m. on Sunday (June 10) and should be finished Wednesday (June 13). The intersections will remain open during the grinding and paving work but motorists should expect delays.
Interstate 84 Eagle westbound off-ramp rebuilding
Construction started March 29 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. Crews currently are working on widening 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 closed to all vehicles, pedestrians and bicycles for repairs on May 30. 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. During construction, Cloverdale between Overland Road and I-84, and between Franklin Road and I-84, is open to local traffic only. Closed shoulders and periodic nighttime lane reductions can be expected. The inside westbound shoulder is closed, though no speed reduction or lane closures will occur on the westbound interstate. The bridge is expected to reopen with the project's completion in early July 2007. McAlvain Construction is the contractor on the $442,000 project.
U.S. 20/26 (Chinden Boulevard), Cloverdale Road to Hewlett-Packard widening
Work is under way to widen U.S. 20/26 from Hewlett-Packard to Cloverdale Road. Chinden Boulevard traffic between Cloverdale Road and Hewlett-Packard will shift to newly-constructed lanes on the south side of Chinden beginning June 19, weather permitting. The traffic shift will allow crews to work on the north side of Chinden as part of a widening project. Throughout the work zone, one lane of traffic is maintained in each direction during daytime hours. Periodic nighttime lane closures can be expected between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. Flaggers will guide motorists through the work zone. Access to businesses and residences will be maintained. Prior to the traffic shift, crews will construct base asphalt pavement on the south side of the roadway. This will require a temporary closure of the Hewlett-Packard (H-P) main entrance beginning Thursday morning (June 14). The gate will reopen to traffic the following Tuesday morning (June 19). An additional one-day closure of the H-P main gate will be required for final paving (likely in late September, date not yet determined). Left turns into the H-P main entrance will also be restored by June 19. Motorists can access H-P from either the Five Mile or Cloverdale entrances. Night and weekend traffic is required to use the Cloverdale entrance on the west side of the H-P campus. Joplin Road is closed from the Chinden/Cloverdale intersection to Ancell Lane. Motorists can access Joplin at its eastern intersection with Chinden (near Mountain View Drive). Following completion of drainage work and pipe installation, the City of Boise will install underground sewer lines in the same area. After sewer work is complete, the Ada County Highway District plans to resurface Joplin Road. 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.
BOISE COUNTY
Dunnigan Creek Bridge
Construction started in June to replace the Dunnigan Creek Bridge over Mores Creek. The bridge is located 14 miles south of Idaho City and seven miles north of High Bridge. Dunnigan Creek Bridge will be torn down and replaced with a taller, wider structure. The bridge is at least 70 years old. The new bridge will include new guardrail to improve safety. Slope stabilization will also be done along Idaho 21 before and after the bridge. There will be a temporary crossing over Mores Creek while the new bridge is built. The temporary crossing will maintain one lane in each direction for motorists. The speed limit in the construction area will be reduced to 25 miles per hour from 45 miles per hour, and signs will be posted informing motorists of the speed reduction. Approximately June 12, rock blasting and scaling work will start. The scaling is done to remove loose rocks from adjacent slopes. Traffic will be stopped at approximately 15-minute intervals for the scaling and rock removal. On June 18, excavation work is currently scheduled to begin on the downstream side of the bridge to enhance an existing wetland site. The work is done to fulfill environmental requirements. There may be some construction activity on weekends. The work is scheduled to be finished late this year. McAlvain Excavation is the contractor on the $2.3 million project.
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. Specht Avenue will close from Monday (June 11) to Wednesday (June 13) while crews reconstruct the intersection of Franklin Road and Specht Avenue. The closure will begin at 7 a.m. Monday and end at 5 p.m. Wednesday. Work will require excavating and removing old materials to completely rebuild the intersection. All business access will remain open. Local traffic can access businesses on Specht through a detour from Franklin Road to Commercial Way. Signs will be posted to advise motorists of the detour. Due to the extensive excavation, emergency vehicles will not be able to travel through the intersection of Specht Way and Franklin Road. On 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. 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.
Interstate 84 resurfacing
Work will start Monday (June 11) to resurface the section of Interstate 84 that crosses over Linden Road. The construction project will resurface the bridge deck above Linden Road to improve driving conditions on I-84, and upgrade guardrail to improve safety on the highway. The speed limit on Interstate 84 will be reduced to 55 miles per hour. The I-84 section that crosses over Linden Road is east of the Exit 29/Franklin Interchange reconstruction project, and is between milepost 28 and milepost 31. Motorists are advised to expect lane restrictions in the eastbound and westbound sections of I-84. Traffic management is being coordinated with the Exit 29/Franklin Interchange rebuilding project to minimize impacts to motorists. There will not be impacts to motorists using Linden Road. The $780,000 project is scheduled to be finished in early August 2007.
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 is 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 are working an aggressive schedule, which may include some night and weekend work. 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.
I-84B Nampa/Caldwell Boulevard resurfacing
The Idaho Transportation Department will begin reconstructing two miles of Nampa/Caldwell Boulevard (I-84B) on June 10 between Karcher Road and Northside Boulevard. The project will improve the road surface for commuters and local traffic entering downtown Nampa. In a partnership with the city of Nampa, the transportation department will add sidewalks, curb and gutter to the north side of the roadway. The city and its local improvement district will cover the cost of the additions. The majority of road work will occur at night. Two lanes in both directions will be open during certain times of the day, and there will be intermittent lane reductions to one lane of travel in each direction. At night and during some early-summer utility work, one lane may be closed in each direction. Access to businesses will remain open. The resurfacing is a companion project to the I-84 Karcher Interchange, which opened at the end of the 2006 construction season. The transportation department scheduled the boulevard resurfacing after the interchange project to give commuters another route during peak travel times. The boulevard surface has long outlived its 20-year lifespan and is badly deteriorated. Central Paving Co. of Boise is the contractor for the $5 million project.
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. 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. The project's first phase started in late May. It involved closing the Exit 26 (Notus Interchange) westbound off-ramp on May 30. It is scheduled to reopen June 20. On June 7, the Exit 26 eastbound on-ramp closed for repaving. It is scheduled to reopen June 22. Ramp traffic is being detoured to Old Highway 30 and the Middleton Interchange (Exit 25) during the ramp closures. In May, equipment was moved into the project area where two crossovers are being built to shift interstate traffic and a portion of the detour area will be paved. During the second phase, scheduled to start in late June, all I-84 traffic will be shifted to the eastbound lanes and reduced from two lanes to one lane in each direction in the eastbound section. The shift will allow crews to 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. Idaho Sand & Gravel is the contractor on the $14 million project, scheduled to be finished this fall.
ELMORE COUNTY
U.S. 20 repaving
Repaving started June 4 on a section of U.S. 20 between milepost 112.9 and milepost 124.6. Traffic will be directed through the area by a pilot car. The speed limit was reduced to 55 miles per hour starting June 4, and to 45 miles per hour at specific work zones. There will be intermittent lane reductions to one lane in the repaving area. The repaving is scheduled to finish in early August.
VALLEY COUNTY
Idaho 55 Rainbow Bridge rebuilding
Improvements to the historic Idaho 55 Rainbow Bridge north of Smiths Ferry resumed April 23. Traffic crossing the bridge will be restricted to one lane on weekdays from noon Mondays through noon Fridays. Combined tractor and trailer loads over 78 feet long or 12 feet wide should use U.S. 95 as an alternate route starting April 30. The speed limit through the work zone will be reduced to 25 mph.
Dial 5-1-1 for 24-hour highway driving conditions or visit the Idaho Transportation Department's Internet site at 511.idaho.gov.