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Nampa underpass honored as top project

The 11th Avenue Underpass Project in Nampa is being recognized by the American Council of Engineering Companies of Idaho (ACEC) as the top project in the state last year.

J-U-B Engineers, Inc., the firm that designed the underpass widening project, will accept the "Grand Concepetor Award" at the 2003 Idaho Engineering Excellence Awards Banquet today (Feb. 6). J-U-B nominated the project team – which also included ITD, the city of Nampa and Tarradon & Mueser Rutledge Consulting Engineers– for the award.

“During the design process we worked closely with Carl Main [now in ITD Headquarters Maintenance], Ken Clausen from the Bridge Section and Lisa Applebee from District 3 design,” said J-U-B Engineer Jim Porter.

“Gary Hazen, Bob Schumacher, Mike Cook and the rest of the Caldwell Region administered the construction project exceptionally well. This was one of the best-run construction projects I have ever seen, which contributed immensely to the success of this project.”

The project widened the old 65-year-old railroad underpass from two lanes to four and increased the vertical clearance from 14 feet to almost 17 feet. The Front Street bridge also was replaced, a pedestrian bridge was built across 11th Avenue and a raised, open sidewalk through the underpass, (accessible to disabled people) was constructed.

The city of Nampa and the Nampa Urban Renewal Agency partnered with ITD on the $16 million project, contributing $5 million in urban renewal funds for the new structure.

"The new 11th Avenue Underpass is a success story for our Urban Renewal program," Nampa Mayor Tom Dale said during construction. "This project will help strengthen our community’s economy and improve its livability."

State and local officials broke ground for the new underpass on Nov. 1, 2001; its opening was celebrated during a community event that attracted about 1,000 citizens on Jan. 24, 2003.

J-U-B Engineers, Inc. also submitted the project in the national 2004 ACEC Engineering Excellence Awards Competition – the first project in six years sent from Idaho submitted to the national competition.