September 3, 2010

Highways
Highway labor takes a Labor Day break
Highway construction will take a holiday break this weekend to help motorists reach their Labor Day destinations and return with minimal delays. Except in special circumstances, construction activities will cease this afternoon (Friday) and will resume again on Tuesday morning.
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Traffic control planned for Idaho 55
If your Labor Day weekend plans include travel on Idaho 55, the Idaho Transportation Department asks you to avoid the heaviest traffic by traveling outside peak travel times or using alternate routes. ITD will again supply flaggers to help with traffic flow. Since 1995, ITD has assisted motorists over the longer Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day holiday weekends at the heavily traveled intersection of Idaho 55 and the Banks-to-Lowman Wildlife Canyon Scenic Byway.
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High-density foam uses as unique highway fill
High-density foam products such as those used as fast-food drink containers and insulated coolers often are considered a threat to the environment. They have a long lifespan, are not biodegradable and clog landfills. But those same characteristics make high-density foam an appropriate material for some highway construction applications, as ITD is proving in southeast Idaho.
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Bicycles
Annual race to fill highways with bike riders
An endurance bicycle race that begins in Utah and terminates in Wyoming will bring more than 1,000 riders and their families to a route that cuts through southeast Idaho on Saturday, Sept. 11. The 28th annual LOTOJA Classic (Logan, Utah to Jackson, Wyoming) began with a small group of college friends at Utah State University and has become one of the nation's premier cycling races.
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MADD assembly
ITD's Losness to attend 30th anniversary conference
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) turns 30 this year, and ITD’s Lisa Losness will be on hand to help mark the anniversary at the organization’s national conference in Washington, D.C., Sept. 23-25. Losness recently was awarded a scholarship to attend the three-day gathering and participate in some of the 50 workshops
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ITD Mailbox
• Enjoyable travels through Idaho
• Making a bad situation better

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Preparedness
Hazard mitigation can lessen disaster effects
The first two months of 2010 demonstrated the destructive power of earthquakes. Haiti had a 7.0 magnitude earthquake that killed an estimated 300,000 people. Chile was hit by an 8.8 magnitude earthquake (about 100 times more powerful) and suffered 700 deaths. Poverty and population density played significant roles in this difference, but a third factor was also involved.

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Encore
August 27, 2010

Highway safety
Survey shows average seat belt use at 77.9 percent
More than three-quarters of Idaho motorists regularly wear seat belts while driving, according to a survey conducted by Idaho’s public health districts for ITD’s Office of Highway Operations and Safety. Motor vehicle occupants in southwest Idaho buckled more often than in any other region, at a rate of 93.2 percent. They were followed closely motorists in north-central Idaho where the observed rate was 87.4 percent. Motor vehicle occupants in southeast Idaho were observed wearing seat belts only 62.6 percent of the time.
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Education
ITD, ISU receive federal training grant for under-represented populations
ITD and educational partner Idaho State University will implement a new training program for under-represented populations following the award this week of a $190,577 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced ITD’s award as part of $5.9 million dollar program to support transportation-related training in 19 states and Washington, D.C.

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