Construction is expected to begin south of Burley on Monday (June 8) at the intersection of Idaho Highway 27, West 600 South and South Pole Line Road.
“This safety improvement will widen the roadway and provide designated left turn lanes for motorists traveling on the highway,” said ITD Project Manager Brock Dillé. “It will also increase mobility in the area with through traffic no longer needing to slow down for vehicles making turns onto the adjacent roadways.”
During construction, traffic will be reduced to a single lane and guided by flaggers or temporary signals. Work is expected to continue until mid-July.
Motorists should anticipate minor delays and may encounter some access closures to county roads. Drivers are encouraged to consider another route while work on this project is underway.
The general contractor is Idaho Materials and Construction.
The Idaho Transportation Department will begin repairs this week on Idaho Highway 75 in Blaine County to address areas damaged during the winter months. Work will occur on various stretches of roadway between milepost 118 and 132 on both north and southbound lanes.
Weather permitting, crews are anticipated to complete work by the end of July.
“We are working to fix areas of the highway which saw substantial damage over the lengthy winter months,” said ITD area foreman Brad Lynch. “The work we are doing will smooth out the roadway and improve the driving experience for motorists throughout the Wood River Valley.”
Some areas will require a detour while work is being performed. Access to Serenade Lane from ID-75 will be closed for approximately two days during this timeframe.
Motorists are advised to exercise caution, watch for flaggers and follow signs which will be in place to safely direct drivers through the area.
Repairs are expected to take place Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Work will not be performed over the Fourth of July weekend.
Weather permitting, on Monday (June 1) the Idaho Transportation Department will begin sealcoating a portion of US-20 west of Fairfield from milepost 124 to 151 to preserve the pavement.
“Over the next two weeks, we will sealcoat approximately 27 miles of highway,” said ITD Project Manager Sam Purser. “This is the final stage of the US-20 paving and safety improvement project that took place in that area last year.”
While work is underway, the roadway will be reduced to a single lane. Both lanes will be open to traffic outside of working hours.
Motorists should anticipate short delays and watch for the presence of flaggers or pilot cars during the day.
Sealcoating is a surface treatment that takes place during the summer months to preserve and extend the life of Idaho’s roadways by applying a layer of oil and rock chips. It also provides a skid-resistant surface for better vehicle traction.
The process requires hot temperatures and dry weather for chips to properly adhere to the oil.
Chips placed during sealcoats have potential to cause windshield damage so drivers are cautioned to slow down and pay attention to reduced speeds and no-passing zones throughout the work area.
Two detours are expected to occur next month in relation to the construction on US-30 from N 400 West to Parke Avenue in Burley.
“This project has been underway since February of this year, and we are expected to finish this fall,” said ITD Project Manager Kenny Lively. “We are transitioning four miles of the roadway from a two-lane to a four-lane highway which will enhance safety and increase mobility in the area.”
The first detour is scheduled to occur Monday, June 1 from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Access to Bedke Boulevard from US-30 will be closed to through traffic. Motorists will need to use Idaho Highway 27 during this time while crews place new storm sewer and electrical components.
The second detour is scheduled to take place from Saturday, June 6 to Thursday, June 11 to allow Eastern Idaho Railroad to work on the nearby crossing. During this time, US-30 will be closed to through traffic between Parke Avenue and Washington Avenue. Motorists will be rerouted to West 16th Street.
Drivers should exercise caution and watch for signs which will be in place to safely direct motorists through the area.
Western Construction Inc. is the prime contractor for this project.
National Work Zone Awareness Week is traditionally held in April, but with more drivers back on highways, the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is again spotlighting work zone safety.
ITD asks media partners and drivers to tune in each day this week (May 18 – 23) to the department’s Facebook and Twitter pages to see different types of work zones.
Drivers are familiar with larger road construction projects, which are typically well-marked and have better visibility, but they may not be as familiar with short-duration operations.
These can pop up anywhere, at any time. Whether it is a highway worker stopping to remove a shredded tire or animal carcass from the road, or performing maintenance work like repairing guardrail right next to the travel lanes, these jobs generally put workers closer to the road, and closer to danger. There is less time for the worker or the driver to take evasive action when encountering short-duration operations.
Just last year, an ITD operator was killed outside Arco in a short-duration operation, reminding us all of the importance of being safe and vigilant in work zones across the state.
During this week, ITD also remembers the sacrifices of other workers lost over the years while on the job – many of them were killed in work zones. Since this picture was taken, there have been two more markers added to the Fallen Workers Memorial, bringing the total to 40 workers since 1960.
“Work zones can be the most hazardous areas on our state highway system,” ITD Safety Manager Randall Danner said. “We urge drivers to use extreme caution when passing through these areas so they can arrive at their destination safely and our workers can return home to their loved ones.”
In addition to short-duration maintenance operations, ITD has dozens of projects planned this year with information on itdprojects.org. Each project is different in terms of traffic revisions and reduced speed limits. Please check 511.idaho.gov for traveler information.
Rehabilitation of the westbound lanes on Interstate 84 between Jerome and Twin Falls is expected to begin next Monday (May 11). Work will encompass approximately seven miles of highway (milepost 166 to 173) and provide a safer and smoother ride for motorists.
“Initial work will include construction of traffic crossovers and temporary ramps,” said ITD South-central Idaho Project Manager Brock Dillé. “Building a temporary ramp at Exit 173 will allow us to keep traffic moving without detouring motorists during construction.”
The first phase of the project is expected to last until July of this year. Once construction of crossovers and temporary ramps are complete, rehabilitation of the roadway will begin.
“This project was originally scheduled to begin in 2022,” said Dillé. “Due to efficiencies and cost-savings throughout the department, ITD was able to expedite this high priority route in order to provide a better highway for commercial and passenger vehicles two years earlier than anticipated.”
While construction is underway, traffic on this section of I-84 will be reduced to a single lane in each direction. Motorists should anticipate reduced speeds and watch for workers and heavy equipment throughout the work zone.
Rehabilitation of the westbound lanes is expected to be complete by the end of this year. Work on the eastbound lanes will begin in the spring of 2021.
The general contractor is Western Construction of Boise.
The Idaho Transportation Department is expected to start construction on a bridge replacement next week on Idaho Highway 75 in Blaine County. Commonly referred to as the Four Mile Bridge because of its proximity to Galena Lodge, the structure spans the Big Wood River approximately twenty miles north of Ketchum at milepost 148.2.
“The current bridge was built in 1953 and has exceeded its life expectancy,” said South-central ITD Project Manager Brock Dillé. “In the coming months, we will replace the existing three-span bridge with a new single-span structure. Unlike the current bridge, the new structure will not have any piers in the water which will more readily allow for the natural meandering of the river.”
The new structure will be wider in order to accommodate 12-foot lanes with 3-foot shoulders in each direction. This will provide for more separation between vehicles and bicycles on the roadway and improve safety in the area.
While construction is ongoing, traffic will be reduced to a single lane. Temporary traffic signals will be in place and motorists can expect average wait times of approximately 15 minutes.
“There will be occasions when certain construction activities will require slightly longer wait times,” said Dillé. “Our goal is to keep these as minimal as possible throughout the project.”
A push button will also be in place for bicyclists who recreate in the area. Drivers and cyclists alike are advised to adhere to signals and watch for crews and heavy equipment during working hours.
Construction on the project is expected to be completed by late October of this year. The general contractor is Cannon Builders of Blackfoot.
Traffic flow is expected to change Monday, April 27 on US-93 between 200 S Road and 300 S Road in Jerome County. This is part of the ongoing US-93 widening project, which will see the highway transition from two lanes to four to increase mobility and traffic flow in the area.
“We will be placing temporary traffic signals at both ends of the project early next week,” said ITD South-central Idaho Project Manager Sam Purser. “While these signals are in place, crews will tie the newly constructed southbound lanes into the existing highway.”
Temporary signals will be utilized for approximately three to four weeks. The intersection at US-93/200 South will also be closed during this time to allow for the construction of new turn bays.
Motorists can anticipate minor delays and are encouraged to plan ahead if commuting through the area. In addition to the signals, construction signage, candlesticks, and barrels will also be in place to safely direct those traveling through the work zone.
Drivers are advised to use caution and watch for workers and heavy equipment entering and exiting the highway.
“This project will improve safety at the US-93/200 South intersection for both passenger and commercial vehicles,” explained Purser. “The end result will be a divided highway similar to what drivers encounter two miles south of this area.”
Idaho Materials and Construction is the prime contractor for this project.
For more information visit https://itdprojects.org/projects/us-93-200-south-road
