The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is performing maintenance work this summer on five Boise bridges along the Connector (Interstate 184). Crews will start work on the I-184 bridge over Chinden Boulevard on Monday.
The bridges included in this project are:
Curtis Road Interchange
Fairview Avenue eastbound on-ramp over I-184
Orchard Street Bridge
I-184 over Chinden Boulevard
Boise River Bridge
Crews will apply epoxy overlays to seal the driving surface, patch and repair bridge decks, and perform joint work to enhance safety and extend the service life of each bridge. The specific work will vary depending on the bridge. The project is expected to be complete this fall.
Motorists should expect lanes and ramps along I-184 to be restricted or closed overnight and speed limits to be reduced. Check 511.idaho.gov to plan your route in advance.
To learn more about the project or sign up for construction updates, visit the project website at itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/boisebridges, call (208) 391-2979, or text BOISEBRIDGES to 1-866-483-8422.
Five bridges on I-184 will be under construction beginning on Monday 6/21/2024
Idaho drivers are urged to plan ahead when traveling north of Eagle this summer as the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is advancing several projects along State Highway 55. These projects include lane closures and reduced speeds in various locations between Eagle and New Meadows.
“Each of these projects is intended to improve traffic flow and safety along this regional route. We look forward to a safer, smoother State Highway 55 after these projects are complete,” District 3 Engineer Jason Brinkman said.
The projects include:
Little Goose Creek Bridge (Construction: June 2024 – late 2024)
ITD will begin replacing the Little Goose Creek Bridge today along SH-55 near Last Chance Campground in New Meadows. SH-55 will be reduced to one lane in the area with flaggers and a traffic signal during construction. Drivers should expect delays. Learn more and sign up for construction updates on the project website.
SH-55 Smiths Ferry to New Meadows chip seal (Construction: July 2024 – fall 2024)
This July ITD will start applying a chip seal to several areas of SH-55 between Smiths Ferry and New Meadows. This project will extend the life of the pavement. The highway will be reduced to one lane with pilot cars where crews are working. Drivers should expect delays. In order to see where crews are working, travelers should sign up for updates on the project website.
Rainbow Bridge (Design: 2024-2026)
ITD is currently conducting soil and rock sampling in the area of the Rainbow Bridge for a project to build a new bridge over the North Fork of the Payette River in Valley County. Drivers can expect 15-minute delays on weekdays in June. To learn more about the project visit https://itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/rainbowbridge.
SH-55 DMS Sign (Construction: fall 2024)
ITD will install a dynamic message sign on SH-55 between Round Valley and Cascade. The new message board will notify motorists of detours or incidents along SH-55. Minimal delays expected. Any traffic impacts during the installation will be posted at 511.idaho.gov.
Flaggers will direct traffic at the Banks-Lowman intersection on all Sundays in July. The project team is planning to install an interim traffic signal at the busy intersection later this year.
SH-55 Fleming Creek Bridge Replacement (Construction: fall 2024 – late 2025)
This fall ITD will begin replacing the Fleming Creek Bridge on SH-55 approximately four miles south of Banks. SH-55 will be reduced to one lane in the work zone with speed limit reductions during the week. Details will be posted to itdprojects.idaho.gov later this summer.
SH-55 State Street to Horseshoe Bend Rehabilitation (Construction: fall 2023 – fall 2024)
ITD is milling and resurfacing SH-55 between State Street in Eagle and Horseshoe Bend. Work is expected to be complete this fall. Details are available on the project website. Drivers are encouraged to slow down in the work zone as there have been too many close calls with flaggers.
It’s important for motorists to plan ahead this summer by checking traffic impacts on their route at 511.idaho.gov.
The Idaho Transportation Department is advancing several projects this summer along State Highway 55 north of Boise.
The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is applying a hot chip seal to more than 100-lane-miles in the heart of Boise with minimal impact to drivers, as the work will all be done at night. This new innovative approach to chip sealing highlights ITD’s dedication to embracing new technologies that lessen impacts to users.
Unlike a regular chip seal, the hot chip seal on this project allows all work to be conducted at night. Traditional chip seal uses oil heated to around 150 degrees that can be applied during daytime high temperatures. Hot chip seal requires oil to be heated to 300 degrees so it can be applied during nighttime lows. Another key advantage is that drivers can use the roadway within 30 minutes of chip sealing, compared to the 24-hour wait required by regular chip seals. This high-temperature process not only extends the pavement’s service life but also minimizes disruptions to businesses and motorists.
Crews are beginning work on Broadway Avenue tomorrow, followed by State Street between State Highway 16 and Linder Road, and Chinden Boulevard. Work is weather dependent and can change. The project is expected to finish late summer of this year.
During construction motorists can expect:
Work on one section of road at a time
Nighttime work from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Access to residences and businesses will be maintained at all times
Lane closures, with at least one lane open in each direction
Shifting traffic patterns
Flaggers in the roadway
Speed limits reduced
In anticipation of this project, last summer ITD applied the first ever hot chip seal on two miles of State Highway 21 to ensure results could be replicated in a busier environment. These projects are the first in the state to use this process.
As Idaho’s population continues to grow, the strain on its mountainous highways becomes increasingly apparent during the summer months, particularly at the intersection of State Highway 55 and Banks Lowman Road. To tackle this, the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is implementing short-term measures while working on a long-term solution.
ITD is advancing a plan to install an interim traffic signal this year at the SH-55, Banks Lowman Road intersection. Currently, the project team is engaged in material testing, environmental work, site design and stakeholder collaboration.
In tandem with the temporary signal, ITD will begin designing a comprehensive intersection plan during the next few years. The design process will include bridge widening and road expansion to accommodate a final signal for increasing traffic demands. There is currently no funding for construction.
Until the interim signal is operational later this year, flagging at the intersection will occur during peak travel periods this summer beginning on Father’s Day. The 2024 flagging season is as follows:
Father’s Day
All Sundays in July
First Sunday in August
Second Sunday in August
Labor Day
ITD encourages those who travel on the weekends along this corridor to always plan ahead. Consider leaving earlier or later to avoid the heaviest travel times and make sure to check 511.idaho.gov before you go.
The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is asking drivers to slow down and watch for construction crews on State Highway 55 south of Horseshoe Bend due to recent dangerous driver behavior in the area.
“There have been a couple of close calls in the work zone with drivers ignoring the flagging crews and the posted speed limit. Safety is our highest priority, so we really need people driving in the area to pay attention,” Project Manager JD Lewelling said.
Ongoing work includes milling and resurfacing the roadway for a smoother driving experience. Safety improvements include replacing guardrail, as needed, throughout the project area.
Construction activity is currently focused on the highway approximately four miles north of Avimor to just south of the Payette River Bridge in Horseshoe Bend. The project also includes constructing a bridge to convey both vehicle and pedestrian traffic under SH-55 at the north end of Avimor. This work is being funded by Avimor.
ADA improvements at SH-55 intersections with Hill Road, Floating Feather Road, and Beacon Light Road will be completed later this summer.
Construction is expected to be complete by this fall.
The Idaho Transportation Department will begin the first of three ramp closures tonight along Interstate 84 and Interstate 184 to resurface damaged pavement. These closures are necessary for the safety of the paving crew.
To minimize traffic impacts, ITD will conduct nighttime paving on all the ramps. Each closure will begin at 8 p.m. and will reopen to traffic the following day by 5:30 a.m. Traffic control measures will be in place prior to any closures. The scheduled ramp closures, which are weather dependent, are as follows:
June 10: I-84 Garrity Boulevard eastbound on-ramp (Exit 38)
June 11: I-84 Garrity Boulevard westbound off-ramp (Exit 38)
June 12: I-184 Franklin-Milwaukee outbound ramp (Exit 1A)
“A typical pothole patch can last for months to a year. The work we do with this paver will last more than three years. This not only reduces the need for frequent repairs, but also lessens the impact on drivers,” New Meadows Mechanic Randy Smith said.
Drivers are encouraged to use the Idaho 511 system by phone, online, or through the app for updated closure information.
ITD will begin the first of three ramp closures tonight along Interstate 84 and Interstate 184 to resurface damaged pavement. These closures are necessary for the safety of our paving crew.
A major traffic shift will begin Saturday as the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) prepares to widen westbound Interstate 84 between the Centennial Way and Franklin Road interchanges.
All traffic will shift to the eastbound lanes between the Centennial Way and Franklin Road interchanges. The traffic shift will be completed over two weekends in June. Motorists should anticipate I-84 ramp closures, detours and lane restrictions. These new traffic patterns will remain in place until summer 2025.
Once the traffic shift is complete motorists can expect:
All lanes of I-84 will be on the eastbound side. Two lanes will be open in each direction, but lanes will be narrower.
Traffic will use temporary off-ramps at Centennial Way and 10th Avenue (Exits 27 and 28). Temporary ramps will be shorter and may have fewer lanes than current ramps.
Frontage Road and Hannibal Street will be reduced to one-way traffic with flaggers.
Intermittent closures on 10th Avenue will begin in July.
The pedestrian overpass over I-84 will be closed and detoured to 10th Avenue in late summer.
This project will increase capacity and improve traffic flow for years to come.
A major Interstate 84 traffic shift will begin on Saturday June 8 as ITD prepares to widen westbound I-84 between the Centennial Way and Franklin Road interchanges.
The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) will begin soil and rock sampling this June for a project to build a new bridge over the North Fork of the Payette River in Valley County. The project will address plans for the nearby Rainbow Bridge that has served Idaho travelers for nearly 100 years.
The sampling will require test drilling in 18 locations around the existing bridge. Preparations are expected to begin next week. Drivers can expect up to 15-minute delays on weekdays in June for the drilling and associated preparations. Work will stop for the weekend each Friday at noon.
Prior to the drilling, ITD will remove trees and vegetation near each drilling location to allow a helicopter to safely lower equipment. The ground will be re-seeded after drilling. Results will be used for designing the bridge foundation, supports and retaining walls along State Highway 55.
The current Rainbow Bridge was constructed in 1933 and no longer meets standards for state highway bridges. ITD began environmental and design work this spring for a new bridge adjacent to the current bridge. The project will include a decision about the future of the existing bridge.
“We intend to approach this project with a high level of transparency, sensitivity and community involvement,” ITD Resident Engineer Dan Gorley said. “Public input will be a key consideration in the final recommendation for the new bridge and the existing bridge.”
ITD will host community open houses and a stakeholder working group this July. Additional community involvement opportunities will be scheduled later this year. To request an invitation to future meetings, please email info@sh55rainbowbridge.com or visit https://itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/rainbowbridge.
The project is planned for construction in 2027 or 2028.
The closure planned at the Simco Road Interchange for last week has been rescheduled for today (June 3).
The westbound off-ramp of Interstate 84 at the Simco Road Interchange will be closed for construction today beginning at 6 a.m. and will reopen tomorrow. Vehicles using the westbound off-ramp will be rerouted to Mayfield (Exit 71).
At the end of this week, traffic on the eastbound lanes will shift to the left before Exit 71. The westbound lanes will remain open with intermittent daytime closures. The Simco Road Bridge will remain open as one lane. Drivers can expect reduced speeds when approaching the interchange.
Construction began in July 2023 to replace the bridge over I-84, originally built in 1959. Work is expected to be complete this summer.
The Idaho Transportation Department reminds drivers to be patient, slow down and obey all posted signs in the construction zone. Travelers should check 511.idaho.gov before driving in the area.
5/28/2024 Original Story
The westbound off-ramp of Interstate 84 at the Simco Road Interchange will be closed for construction tomorrow and will reopen Thursday. Vehicles using the westbound off-ramp will be rerouted to Mayfield (Exit 71).
At the end of next week, traffic on the eastbound lanes will shift to the left before Exit 71. The westbound lanes will remain open with intermittent daytime closures. The Simco Road Bridge will remain open as one lane. Drivers can expect reduced speeds when approaching the interchange.
Construction began in July 2023 to replace the bridge over I-84, originally built in 1959. Work is expected to be complete this summer.
The Idaho Transportation Department reminds drivers to be patient, slow down and obey all posted signs in the construction zone. Travelers should check 511.idaho.gov before driving in the area.
Collisions between vehicles and cattle along State Highway 51 is spurring an Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) employee to take action by repurposing unused signs into open range warnings.
Wilmer Biggs, a transportation technician with the Bruneau ITD maintenance crew, has seen firsthand the damage that can happen when vehicles collide with open range cattle. Biggs decided to transform advisory signs from a defunct federal radio alert system into flashing open range signs. To date, Biggs has converted nine signs along SH-51, spanning from the Nevada border to north of Bruneau. Biggs hopes to convert more in the future.
“These flashing signs are designed to grab the attention of travelers. It’s a win-win situation. Not only will it enhance safety for Idaho’s drivers, but it will reduce losses for our local farmers,” Biggs said.
Open range cattle can be found on SH-51 and other Idaho highways year round. Idaho is an open range state, meaning cattle and other livestock have the right of way. If livestock is hit on an open range, the owner of the animal is not liable for damages to the driver or the vehicle. Drivers may be liable for injuries or death of the animal if found to have been negligent.
