The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is changing construction plans with a revised final lane configuration for the Eagle Rd. and Idaho Highway 44 intersection to build and upgraded traditional, signalized intersection with additional turn and through lanes in Eagle.
When complete this fall, the revised lane configuration will eliminate displaced left turn movements and potential wrong way driver confusion factors while still greatly relieving congestion during peak commute hours. The new Eagle Rd. and ID-44 design will include additional left-turning lanes and will replace short free free-running right turns with longer right turn pockets.
“After taking another look at the intersection design from a traffic operations layout and safety standpoint, we believe a wider, traditional lanes upgraded signalized intersection is the best solution that will benefit the Eagle community and region for 20 years or more at Idaho State Highway 44 and Eagle Road,” said ITD Chief Operations Officer Dan McElhinney.
Changes to construction will be seamless and will happen under the existing agreement with Knife River, the contractor. Elimination of the free-running rights allows the revised lane configuration to fit within the same footprint of the existing intersection and ITD anticipates the project will be built for around the same budget. Every effort will be made to maintain the schedule with construction completed by fall 2021.
Motorists are encouraged to slow down and pay attention when traveling in the work zone.
Spring construction picks back up on Idaho Highway 55 between Smiths Ferry and the Rainbow Bridge Monday, March 15. The Idaho Transportation Department’s project will widen shoulders, add guardrail, and straighten this curvy one-mile stretch of highway to improve safety. Watch the video below to see the project.
Earlier this month, crews removed snow and set up construction equipment in the canyon. Starting March 15, travelers should plan for full road closures Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., due to controlled rock blasting needed to widen the road. When ID-55 is not closed, there will be one-way alternating traffic with 15-minute delays. This work schedule is expected through May, when crews will transition into summer operations.
The Idaho Transportation Department will begin construction of a half continuous flow intersection (CFI) at Eagle Road and ID-44 in Eagle on Monday, February 22 to improve mobility and safety at this busy intersection
Connecting two major highways in the Treasure Valley, more than 70,000 vehicles travel through this intersection every day. The half CFI design improves safety and reduces congestion all within relatively small footprint.
Across the nation, CFIs have a proven track record of increased efficiency and safety. This will be the first CFI constructed in Idaho. ITD encourages the public to learn how to navigate through the intersection by watching and sharing an explainer video below.
“The new design does require drivers to pay attention and think ahead, especially on Idaho Highway 44,” said Tyler Coy, ITD Project Manager. “I encourage everyone to learn more about how it works by watching the video during and after construction. When we’re done, there will be overhead signs guiding traffic to the right place. It’s really important people drive attentively.”
Due to traffic volume during the day, most construction will occur overnight between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Some work is scheduled during daytime hours but will mostly occur in the roadway shoulders. Nearby businesses and residents may experience loud noise from construction equipment, vibration, and bright light from the work zone.
Motorists are encouraged to slow down and pay attention when traveling in the work zone.
Construction is expected to be complete in early fall 2021.
The total project budget is $8.9M. Knife River is the contractor for construction.
A pilot program on I-84 construction zones designed to increase efficient movement of people and commerce won a leadership award for enhancing safety through a key corridor.
The Community Planning Association of Southwest Idaho (COMPASS) selected the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) Safety Patrols Program on I-84 as the winner for the “Leadership in Government, Canyon County” category for their annual Leadership in Motion awards.
The Safety Patrols pilot program was an idea introduced by ITD Emergency Management Planner Neal Murphy after seeing similar programs in other states. Murphy pitched the program to GARVEE Managers Amy Schroeder and Mark Campbell as a way to increase safety for emergency responders, construction workers, and the traveling public while ensuring traffic was able to flow at a steady pace.
“Mark and I coordinated with ITD Contracting Services to build a contract and worked through numerous issues before getting it to the Tow Association.” Murphy explained. “We also coordinated operations with Idaho State Police, ISP dispatch, and State Communications ensure ITD had a sound product to serve the traveling public. It was a team effort to make this happen and hopefully it will be a model for future Idaho construction projects in large cities.”
The service operates during weekday peak hours and as needed for special occasions such as traffic shifts or closures, holidays and public events. The services include assisting with breakdowns, accidents and law enforcement traffic assistance. Craig Parker is the primary contractor operating the tow. His goal is to remove the vehicle and occupants from the work zone and take them to a safe location off the interstate to enhance their safety while reducing traffic delays.
From the time the service began in December 2019 through August 2020, the Safety Service Patrol has completed 154 assists/tows. This includes 81 breakdowns, 44 accidents, and 29 law enforcement assists with zero serious injuries or stuck-by events.
In addition, ISP’s increased presence in this high priority construction corridor has resulted in an improvement in officer response times in the work zone. ISP has made 1,613 contacts and traveled 17,568 miles since the beginning of construction.
ITD was commended for providing prompt and safe response times to stranded motorists, reducing congestion and increasing reliability of travel times.
Idaho Transportation Department crews are completing emergency repairs to a section of Idaho Highway 45 after numerous potholes formed on the roadway.
Potholes continue to form between Deer Flat Road and Melba Road, an eight-mile stretch of ID-45. The damage is caused by water seeping under the surface, freezing – which pushes the pavement up – and thawing, leaving a void.
Crews excavate damaged pavement in preparation for a cold patch
The voided pavement then collapses under the weight of traffic.
The emergency repairs involve removing asphalt and debris from the hole, cutting out the damaged pavement, and filling the hole with an asphalt material designed for use during cold temperatures. Crews will close one lane of ID-45, controlling traffic with flaggers. Motorists should drive engaged and anticipate delays of no more than 15 minutes. Repair work is expected to take up to two or three days.
“We’ve been patching this section of highway to keep it together,” said Camilo Serrano, the ITD Maintenance Foreman for the area. “With the rain and snow we got, and temperatures dropping then warming up again, we’re seeing a lot of potholes forming. I’m hoping these patches will stick through the winter until we can come back in the spring with better repairs.”
This cold patch material is not as strong as typical asphalt and will only work for a short time. Normal asphalt is unavailable currently as no nearby asphalt mixing plant is operational this time of year due to seasonal conditions. ITD is developing a plan to complete longer-lasting repairs in the spring. The fix will be similar to the operation in 2017 to repair I-84 after many potholes formed during that year’s severe winter.
The Department has previously budgeted for major rehabilitation of the pavement from the Junction of ID-78 to Deer Flat Road, scheduled for 2025. The springtime repairs will be designed with the intent to keep the roadway in an acceptable condition until that time.
The Idaho Transportation Department will be closing Idaho Highway 21 from Grandjean to Banner Summit tonight due to a high avalanche risk.
A weather system bringing rain and snow is likely to trigger avalanches in this section of highway. The anticipated closure will begin at 6 p.m. on December 20. However, actual weather impacts may require an earlier closure. Motorists needing to use the roadway are advised to make the trip immediately or plan to use alternate routes.
The alternate route between the Treasure Valley and Stanley area is to travel east on I-84, exit in Mountain Home at Exit 95 to U.S. 20, then head north on Idaho Highway 75.
The ITD Avalanche Crew monitors the snowpack along this section of highway in order to forecast the risk of avalanches large enough to reach the roadway. This practice allows the Department to keep the highway open during the winter months with a reasonable confidence of safety for the traveling public. Previously, the Department closed this section of highway after the first avalanches hit the road.
The Avalanche Crew will continue to monitor the snowpack as a snowstorm hits the area and after. The highway will reopen when the snowpack has stabilized and the risk of active avalanches is reduced. Updates on closures and openings will be posted on 511. Future closures will be announced on 511 and ITD’s Twitter account.
There are sixty regular avalanche paths in this 11-mile stretch of ID-21. Avalanches can be triggered without warning. For this reason, there is no parking or stopping within this section of road during the winter.
Below is a gallery of activities the Avalanche Crew performs during the winter.
Sign at Banner Creek warning of avalanche zone
Members of the Avalanche Crew walk to the weather station at Banner Summit
Chantel Astorga grabs measurements at Banner Summit
Brent Jenkins measures the snowpack depth at Banner Summit
The weather station at Banner Summit collects valuable data used to forecast avalanche risk
Chantel tabulates and tracks snowpack and weather data to forecast avalanche risk
Avalanche tracking data
This sign reminds motorists to not stop in this dangerous stretch of ID-21
The Idaho Transportation Department will open four lanes of Chinden Boulevard from Locust Grove to Eagle Road to traffic this Friday, marking a major milestone in the ChindenWest Corridor project.
The widening of this section of Chinden from two lanes to four began this spring. This is the second segment of the ChindenWest project to finish this year. Idaho 16 to Linder Road was completed in September. Linder Road to Locust Grove will wrap up in 2021.
“With work in the corridor nearly complete, we appreciate the patience of the traveling public and nearby residents throughout construction,” said Daris Bruce, ITD District 3 Resident Engineer.
The ChindenWest corridor is a heavily-commuted section of U.S. 20/26 connecting I-84 and Eagle Road (ID-55). Widening to four lanes is the first of three phases for the corridor’s 2040 vision. Phase 2 will widen the highway to six lanes. Phase 3 will construct high-capacity intersections at key locations. No funding has been identified for those future phases at this time.
The project website, ITDprojects.org/ChindenWest, serves as a hub of information for the public, including videos that provide a window into the future. The one-stop-shop website includes detailed information about construction activities, anticipated traffic impacts, and the improvement designs.
Winter weather has arrived in Idaho and it’s time to be Idaho Ready on the road. One way you can do that? Keep an emergency kit in your car this winter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KLR09HEuyM
You want to be prepared for anything that comes your way, so here are a few things you should always have with you when traveling.
Flashlight — make sure the batteries work
Jumper cables — in case your car won’t start, or maybe you need to help someone else
Kitty litter can give you some traction if your tires are spinning on ice
Chains
Small shovel to dig out around your tires or tailpipe
Flares and a first aid kit
Food and water — pack high protein snacks that will fill you and your family up for a while
Anything to keep you warm — a blanket or a small sleeping bag, winter coat, gloves, hat, and waterproof boots
Ice scraper
If you run off the road, break down, or simply get stuck during a storm, these items will help keep you warm and safe until help arrives. Remember, always let someone know about your travel plans, especially if you’ll be driving through areas with no cell service. Check the latest road conditions at 511.idaho.gov before you leave.
In Idaho you have to be prepared for all sorts of winter weather, and that means being Idaho Ready to drive safely. The Idaho Transportation Department wants drivers to have the knowledge and resources to do that, before they hit the road. Read the messages below to gain some winter driving insight from ITD’s own snow plow operators.
The Idaho Transportation Department has finished upgrading the street lights in Ada County from high pressure sodium bulbs to more efficient LED fixtures, saving an estimated 50% annually in energy costs.
In total, 537 fixtures were upgraded on the state highway system across the county. These lights are often installed on freeway ramps, signalized intersections, or underneath bridges.
“LED technology is superior to the old sodium lights in many ways,” said Justin Price, Traffic Manager for ITD’s Southwest Idaho Office. “They are cheaper to operate and maintain, and they have a longer life span. They also produce a whiter light, which improves visibility to drivers.”
LED offers several economic and ecological advantages over high pressure sodium (HPS). The lifespan of an LED can be up to four times longer than HPS, meaning less physical waste. HPS bulbs cast light in all directions, while LEDs are restricted to 180 degrees, making them more efficient at lighting what we want lit. HPSs need to be regularly monitored as they age, whereas LEDs are near-bulletproof, requiring fewer trips in the maintenance truck.
The cost to replace these fixtures was $450 each. ITD has started to make these upgrades for the street lights in Canyon County as well and plan to have them completed over the next two years.
