BOISE - When demolition crews take down the old five-span Orchard Interchange tonight (Friday, Oct. 23), it will be the first of three major bridge structures along I-84 to be removed over the course of the next three months. The Ten Mile bridge will be next in November, followed by the Vista Interchange scheduled for December.

"This is a historic amount of construction on I-84," says GARVEE Program Manager Jason Brinkman. "Each demolition will involve coordinated traffic changes for motorists, and the work will be highly visible to the thousands of commuters who use the corridor." Brinkman says when complete, the projects will greatly reduce congestion on the interstate.

The demolition of the Orchard bridge will begin at 10 p.m. Friday and will require up to three nights to complete. During each night, I-84 will be closed under the Orchard bridge. Motorists will exit and re-enter I-84 using the off- and on-ramps. Flaggers will direct motorists.

Closure times will be different each night:

•     Friday, Oct. 23 to Saturday, Oct. 24 from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
•     Saturday, Oct. 24 to Sunday, Oct. 25 from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m.
•     Sunday, Oct. 25 to Monday, Oct. 26 from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. (at least one lane will be open in each direction).

When complete in spring 2010, the new Orchard Street interchange will have eight lanes, longer turn lanes and longer, wider on- and off-ramps. A section of the new bridge opened to traffic on Saturday, October 17.

McAlvain Group of Companies, Inc. is the contractor for the $15.1 million project. The project is funded through the GARVEE Transportation Program, which uses Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicle (GARVEE) bonds to expedite interstate improvements.