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Cold weather does not stall Rock Creek Bridge work

From District 4 newsletter Interchange

Cold December temperatures put a quick end to road building activities on the Twin Falls Alternate Route, but only intensified efforts for the new Rock Creek Bridge and preparation for spring thaw.

Beginning with the first week of December, W.W. Clyde crews were moving fill out of Rock Creek more quickly with the aid of a new haul road, pouring concrete for the west abutment foundation and preparing for the final push to the bottom of the canyon. It is becoming apparent that construction of the new crossing will be the critical path for opening of the new highway that W.W. Clyde continues to expect by the end of this year.

Meanwhile, excavation crews continue to install irrigation pipe throughout the entire six-mile project, despite much reworking of the irrigation plans.

Preparation for road building started with a bang – literally – at TF-25 (a gravel pit near Hollister) where much of the asphalt mix will be quarried. One of the largest ITD blasts in memory – a double-bench shot with hundreds of holes and thousands of pounds of dynamite – took place on Dec. 23 in preparation of crushing material.

After taking off the final week-and-a-half of 2009 for the holidays, crews returned to the project this month. Project supervisors say they anticipate completion of fill removal from Rock Creek canyon by the end of the month followed by blasting and forming for bridge foundations in the canyon floor.

But before construction begins again, completion of irrigation pipe work by mid-February will satisfy the Twin Falls Canal Company in preparation of the spring water season. Thawing of the ground and warmer weather again will lead to a full-on rush toward the end of construction.