Category: Southwest

Information and news from Southwest Idaho | District 3

Construction of innovative intersection redesign at Eagle Rd. and Idaho Highway 44 (ID-44) begins next week

graphic of half CFI

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.

To sign up for construction updates, visit itdprojects.org/Eagle44CFI. To reach the project team, please email Eagle44CFI@itd.idaho.gov.

ITD wins COMPASS Leadership in Motion Award

Tow Truck

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.

The COMPASS Leadership in Motion Awards recognize businesses, individuals, and projects that demonstrate leadership in supporting the Treasure Valley’s regional long-range transportation plan. Last year, ITD District 3 Administrator Caleb Lakey received an award for the “Leadership in Practice, Professional” category.

Recipients of LIM award
L to R: Schroeder, Murphy, Campbell, Parker

ITD crews make emergency repairs to ID-45 as large number of potholes form

Four men on highway with jackhammers

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.

track hoe on highway
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.

ID-21 from Grandjean to Banner Summit to close tonight due to avalanche risk

highway sign for avalanche risk

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.

Four lanes of Chinden Boulevard, from Locust Grove to Eagle Road, will open by Friday

excavator besides roadway

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 new roadway includes four 12-foot travel lanes, two in each direction, and a detached 10-foot pathway to the south for bicyclists and pedestrians. Click here for a detailed rendering of the new design.

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.

Idaho Ready: Pack your winter car emergency kit

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.

Idaho Ready: Winter driving insight from ITD’s snow plow operators

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.

ITD upgrades street lights in Ada County, saving thousands of dollars

LED Street light on a highway

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.

Construction on ID-55 Smiths Ferry project pauses for winter season

Both lanes of Idaho Highway 55 are now back open to traffic, as the Idaho Transportation Department’s Smiths Ferry project pauses for the winter.

This fall crews made steady progress, working to widen shoulders, add guard rail, and straighten ID-55 between Smiths Ferry and the Rainbow Bridge. The project team safely removed 39,500 cubic yards of rock from the canyon through 17 controlled blasts.

Work will resume in mid-March 2021, weather permitting. For more information on the project and to sign up for updates, visit itdprojects.org/ID55smithsferry.

Blasting operations underway on ID-55

Rock blasting is underway between Smiths Ferry and the Rainbow Bridge as road construction continues on ID-55.

The goal is to make this narrow, curvy mile-long stretch of state highway safer, by building wider shoulders, adding guardrail, and straightening the road.

140,000 cubic yards of rock need to come off the canyon, and it’s happening one controlled blast at a time. How do they do it? It takes a lot of work and careful planning.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AihIuaqXaGc

Strategically spaced holes are drilled into the rock differing in size and depth depending on the situation, then the explosives are placed inside.

“We’re using a nitro glycerin based dynamite as a primer, and then we use ammonium nitrate as a blasting agent,” said Blast Operator Ryan Miller. “Each hole is timed, a 40th of a second. We shot that in a V, and the reason it stayed on the hill is because we shot the center first, and kind of sucked it uphill.”

Each blasting design plan is closely reviewed.

“The whole idea is to move the rock in the direction we want it to. We don’t want to launch into the river, fly rock is our enemy,” Miller added.

Through late November, weather permitting, the work zone is closed to traffic every Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. so crews can safely blast and haul away the rock.

Drivers are urged to plan around the closures or use US-95 as a detour.

“We don’t want people or cars traveling through the work zone during blasting. It’s also an incredibly tight work zone with the river off to the east and the rock faces out to the west. So giving the contractor that four hours is really letting them be as efficient as possible,” said Project Engineer Alex Deduck.

Steel containers and temporary barrier keep the falling rock from getting in the travel lane, and protect the crews working in this steep canyon. When the road is not fully closed, one lane is open to alternating traffic.

“Now that we’ve reduced it to one lane it’s even tighter, and just a hard area to work in,” Deduck said.

This winter, construction will pause and both lanes will be open.

In the spring, blasting picks back up with full road closures Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and during the busy summer, one lane will be open to alternating traffic Monday through Friday morning. Both lanes will be open Friday afternoon through Sunday.

You can learn more about the project and sign up for updates at itdprojects.org/ID55smithsferry. The project is expected to finish in late fall 2022.

For the latest road conditions, be sure to download the Idaho 511 app or visit 511.idaho.gov.