Gov. Otter to kick off Vista Avenue Interchange reconstruction at ceremony in Boise Aug. 5

BOISE - Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter will lead a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday, Aug. 5 at 10 a.m., to start construction of a new Interstate 84/Vista Interchange. The $17.8 million project will create jobs, stimulate economic activity, improve motorist safety and reduce congestion.

The interchange construction will be funded with federal stimulus money and is estimated to sustain or create approximately 320 jobs. The Vista Interchange is a primary access to the Boise airport, downtown Boise and Boise State University.

"As we work to recruit and retain employment opportunities here in the Treasure Valley, the Vista Interchange is one of the first impressions that visiting business people get of Idaho after arriving in Boise," said Gov. Otter. "Beyond the jobs and economic activity this project will create directly, having a safe corridor of commerce at the very gateway to our community is essential to providing the kind of environment where people want to bring their families and their business."

Joining the Governor will be Idaho Senate Transportation Committee Chair John McGee, Boise Mayor Dave Bieter and Boise Airport Director Richard McConnell. The ceremony will be on West Elder Street (just west of Vista Avenue, north of the interchange).

The new interchange will be the first in Idaho to use a single point urban design. The design has a single traffic light at the center of the interchange to allow a more continuous, efficient flow of traffic.

The replacement of the 40-year-old Vista Interchange is the seventh of 10 planned projects to widen and modernize I-84 from Nampa to east Boise. The first project, which started in 2007, lengthened and widened the Eagle Road westbound off-ramp. The last project will widen the interstate between Franklin and Garrity boulevards from two lanes in each direction to three lanes and is planned to be complete in fall 2012.

Central Paving Inc. of Boise is the contractor on the project. Construction is expected to complete by September 2010.