Next week, the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) will begin a two-phase project on Idaho Highway 75 (Main Street) in Hailey between Fox Acres Road and Cobblestone Lane.
The first phase will begin Monday, May 3. Crews will update pedestrian ramps and crossings to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. The second phase of the project, which is expected to begin in July, will rehabilitate the roadway.
“At this point in time, the weather is still too variable for us to work on the roadway,” ITD Project Manager Steve Hunter said. “Because of this, we will first address the ADA ramps and then move onto roadway construction later in the summer.”
Only one ramp per intersection will be constructed at a time to lessen impacts to pedestrians. No work is scheduled to occur on the pedestrian ramps or roadway during the July 4 holiday.
“We understand that the City of Hailey is a renowned tourist destination and we will be working closely with our crews to reduce impacts to the community as much as possible,” Hunter said.
ITD will hold a public meeting ahead of the roadway rehabilitation to share with business owners and residents what can be expected during construction, which will last through the summer.
Knife River is the primary contractor on this $3.4 million project.
This Wednesday, westbound Interstate 84 will be reduced to a single lane from milepost 216 – 220. This reduction is expected to be in place for 10 days so crews can perform work relating to construction of the new Port of Entry facility east of Declo.
“We are at the beginning stages of this construction project which will relocate the Cotterel Port of Entry to a new site that provides a safer traveling experience for all drivers,” said ITD Project Manager Sam Purser.
The new location on I-84 will facilitate more efficient trucking operations through advanced technology and will meet current federal compliance standards.
Elements of the new facility will include: new westbound on and off ramps, support of utility infrastructure, scales with weigh-in-motion and automated vehicle identification technologies, video equipment, lighting, signage and operations office buildings.
“Most of the work will occur off the interstate and have minimal impacts to traffic,” stated Purser. “Some work, however, will require us to reduce lanes along I-84 in order to tie the newly constructed infrastructure into the interstate.”
Motorists are advised to check 511 before traveling for updated traffic impacts.
Knife River is the general contractor on this project that is expected to be complete next summer.
Repairs to structures along I-84 in South-central Idaho are expected to begin Monday, April 26.
Over the coming months, ITD will resurface thirteen bridges and nine overpasses, as well as perform other minor maintenance activities, to keep them in service longer. For most bridges, traffic will be reduced to one lane. As work shifts from one bridge to another, traffic patterns will also change. Drivers should expect reduced speeds throughout the area and watch for crews during working hours.
Two overpasses in Minidoka County will be completely closed during construction.
“The overpasses at 500 West and Meridian Road will be closed for about three weeks, but not at the same time,” ITD project manager Bruce Christensen said. “These detours are expected in late May and mid-June.”
As those closures approach, another release will be sent.
Closing the two overpasses will allow crews to complete work sooner, reducing project costs and lessening the overall impacts to travelers.
Construction on all bridges is expected to be finished by October of this year. The general contractor is Cannon Builders.
Drivers can expect additional lane restrictions near Jerome next week as crews from the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) perform a routine bridge inspection on Interstate 84.
On April 15 crews will inspect the bridge located near milepost 163. They will examine the bridge deck and deploy ITD’s under-bridge inspection truck from the eastbound lanes of I-84 and from the county road on the north side of the interstate.
Traffic will be reduced to one lane while inspections are underway. Work is expected to take place from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
“We will begin with a left-lane closure in the I-84 eastbound lanes and then alternate to a right-lane closure as our inspection progresses,” said ITD Bridge Inspector Amy Bower. “These lane restrictions are separate from the nearby work zone between Jerome and Twin Falls, so it’s important that drivers are attentive when traveling on this section of I-84.”
Drivers are urged to exercise caution near the work zones and watch for crew members and equipment. ITD appreciates the patience and cooperation of those driving through the area.
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.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gYQDadDcbk
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.
To stay up to date and learn more, visit the project website itdprojects.org/ID55smithsferry.
Drivers traveling through the Interstate 84/86 interchange this week should plan extra time for several different detours. Detours will be in place between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. and will vary depending on what work is being done.
Both eastbound and westbound traffic will be affected, with all of these detours routing motorists off the interstate.
“It’s necessary for us to detour traffic in order to complete installation of overhead signs at the newly constructed interchange,” ITD Project Manager Travis Hitchcock said. “The direction motorists are traveling through the interchange will determine which detour they will be directed to take.”
Motorists traveling east on Interstate 84/86 from Burley will be routed to Idaho Highway 77 and Idaho Highway 81. Motorists traveling west from Pocatello will take Exit 15 for Raft River and travel on North Yale Road until they reach the I-84/Yale Road Interchange. Motorists traveling north from Utah will be directed to exit at the I-84/Yale Road Interchange and then travel either east toward Pocatello or west toward Burley.
“These detours will not all be in place at the same time,” Hitchcock said. “We will only be detouring traffic that would otherwise be passing underneath the area where the signs are being installed at the time. This will help ensure the safety of both site workers and the traveling public while work is underway.”
Drivers are urged to pay close attention to signage and message boards that will be in place to direct them through the area.
Wadsworth Brothers Construction, of Draper, Utah, is the primary contractor on this project.
Work is expected to resume next month (March 8) on Interstate 84 between Jerome and Twin Falls (milepost 166 to 173). This is part of a larger construction project that began last year to provide a safer and smoother roadway.
“In 2020 we completed the westbound lanes,” ITD Project Manager Brock Dillé said. “In addition to rehabilitating seven miles, we also increased the length of ramps at interchanges, improved lighting and upgraded stormwater drainage. This year, we will complete work on the eastbound lanes of the highway.”
While construction is underway, traffic will be reduced to a single lane in each direction.
“Drivers will utilize the same crossovers and temporary ramps we constructed last year to keep traffic moving during construction,” Dillé said. “Various activities may require changes in traffic patterns so it’s important that motorists pay attention to signs and not follow GPS while traveling through the work zone.”
Motorists should anticipate reduced speeds and watch for workers and heavy equipment. Electronic message boards and signage will be in place to direct drivers through the area.
Western Construction of Boise is the general contractor for this $15 million project that is expected to be complete midsummer.
This is a pivotal and challenging time in the world of public transportation in Idaho. Citizens have the opportunity to help shape what Idaho’s transit future will look like!
The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is seeking representatives for District 1 and District 4 to serve on the Public Transportation Advisory Council (PTAC).
The individual selected for District 1 will represent Bonner, Boundary, Shoshone, Kootenai, and Benewah counties. The individual selected for District 4 will represent Blaine, Camas, Lincoln, Twin Falls, Jerome, Gooding, Cassia, and Minidoka counties.
The PTAC was created to advise the ITD Board on issues related to public transportation in Idaho. It is composed of six members, one representing each of ITD’s administrative districts.
Those interested in applying can find the application form at itd.idaho.gov/pt under the “Advisory” tab. Then, click on either the “District 1 PTAC Application” or the “District 4 PTAC Application” link. Applications will be accepted through April 4. A 30-day public comment period on the candidates will occur starting shortly thereafter.
For more information about PTAC or the application, contact the ITD Public Transportation Office at (208) 334-8533, or email Shauna.Miller@itd.idaho.gov
