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ITD Communications Office seeks media help
to inform public of holiday construction on I-84

Whether it’s a trip to the airport or to the mall, a lot of folks in the Treasure Valley will include Interstate 84 as part of their holiday travel plans this week. In an effort to ensure a safe driving experience, the ITD Communications Office invited the media to step onto the new Vista bridge on last week (Friday, Nov. 20), prior to its opening, to talk about traffic impacts along the busy corridor in the coming weeks.

The results were impressive.

All local television stations as well as KBOI radio came out for a tour of the bridge project and interviews with ITD’s June Sparks and Reed Hollinshead. A media kit providing all the details about lane closures, detours, bridge demolitions (both the Vista and Ten Mile bridges come down in the next few weeks. Winter driving tips and information about the 511 traveler services was handed out with the message: “The Idaho Transportation Department wishes you a safe and happy holiday season.”

Here are the main Holiday 2008 traffic impacts:

Nov. 30 –Dec. 5 Vista Interchange The old Vista bridge will be removed in pieces.

I-84 will be closed overnight under the interchange for six nights (10 p.m. to 5 a.m. on weeknights; 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. on weekends)
Flaggers will direct traffic around the closure using the off- and on-ramps.
Vista Avenue will remain open at all times.

Dec. 11 Ten Mile Overpass The Ten Mile Overpass will be demolished to make way for the new interchange.

I-84 will be closed between Garrity and Meridian interchanges overnight (10 p.m. to 7 a.m.)
Flaggers will direct motorists to Franklin Road and back onto I-84.
Ten Mile Road will be closed until summer 2011.

Mid-December Vista Interchange Crews will set girders for the next section of the new Vista bridge.

I-84 will be closed overnight for six nights under the Vista Interchange (10 p.m. to 5 a.m. on weeknights; 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. on weekends).
Flaggers will direct traffic around the closure using the off- and on-ramps.

Two lanes in each direction will always be open on I-84 during the day. Crews will not work on Thanksgiving or Christmas.