Traffic switched to the westbound side of the Lorenzo Bridge beginning today

REXBURG – Traffic will be switched to the westbound lanes beginning today (Wednesday, July 24) on the US-20 Lorenzo Bridge in Madison County. The bridge rehabilitation is expected to be completed this fall.

The off- and on-ramps of Exit 325 will remain open to traffic during the project, except for the eastbound on-ramp to Rexburg. Motorists will not be able to enter US-20 eastbound toward Rexburg from the Exit 325 interchange and will instead need to detour through Rigby at the Exit 322 on-ramp or use an alternate route.

“This rehabilitation will entail resurfacing of the bridge deck, replacing the guardrail, improving the bridge approaches and finishing with new pavement,” said ITD Project Manager Eli Robinson.

Drivers can expect traffic delays for the duration of the project. Reduced speed limits will be in effect and traffic will be shifted over periodically to single-lane, two-way traffic.

Repairs begin Monday to US-95 in CDA just north of Spokane River

Deteriorating pavement on US-95 just north of Spokane River where it passes over Northwest Boulevard

Idaho Transportation Department maintenance workers will repair US-95 near the Lincoln Avenue/Walnut Avenue intersection for the next two weeks.

Work will start Monday, July 29 at the US-95 interchange with Northwest Boulevard. Drivers leaving the downtown area on Northwest Boulevard will not be able to take the northbound ramp to US-95 for approximately two days as it is repaved. The ramp will open at night, but during the day drivers will be directed to use Lacrosse Avenue as a detour to the highway.

After ramp work is complete, crews will patch the bridge deck. One lane in each direction will be open, but drivers should expect short delays when traffic must be stopped to move equipment on and off the bridge. Drivers will also not be able to turn left from US-95 onto Northwest Boulevard.

Work will progress north to the Lincoln Avenue/Walnut Avenue intersection. Flaggers at the intersection will guide alternating traffic.

Repairs will address the deteriorating pavement in advance of the planned intersection redesign, which has been delayed to 2026 as part of an update to ITD’s seven-year program.

The program is out for public comment until Aug. 2.

Perrine Bridge inspection to take place next week near Twin Falls

Image of the Perrine Bridge near Twin Falls

From Monday, July 29 through Friday, August 2 crews will walk the arch of the Perrine Bridge as part of a routine inspection. An unmanned aerial vehicle (commonly known as a drone or UAV) will also be deployed to examine the structure.

This will be the first time the Idaho Transportation Department has employed a drone for this type of bridge inspection. Close monitoring will be done throughout the process to determine whether efficiencies can be gained through UAV use which could benefit further bridge assessments throughout the state.

Base jumping may be subject to short restrictions during portions of the examination. ITD will provide personnel stationed on the bridge to coordinate with inspection crews and jumpers during regulated periods.

Weather permitting, inspection will occur from approximately 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

Photos from this and other bridge inspections will be shared on ITD’s social media platforms:

– Instagram: @Idaho_Transportation_Dept
– Facebook: @IdahoTransportationDepartment
– Twitter: @IdahoITD

I-15 pavement preservation from Dubois to Montana state line starts today

RIGBY – Construction is expected to begin today (Monday, July 22) on a 29-mile stretch of Interstate 15 from milepost 167 north of the Dubois Interchange to the Montana state line. Crews will add a surface treatment to the northbound and southbound lanes of I-15 to extend the life of the pavement.

Motorists should expect single lane traffic with lane closures of no more than four miles throughout the project. Interchange ramps will temporarily close for no more than one day at a time. Crews will work Monday through Friday, finishing in late September. Although weekend work is not expected, some Saturday work may occur in order to adhere to the overall project timeline.

View map of the project area.

Motorists are advised to check 511.idaho.gov for roadwork updates.

Pavement preservation on several highways in North-Central Idaho begins this week

US-95 between Lapwai and Spalding Bridge, to be sealcoated summer 2019

Sealcoats to preserve existing pavement on several highways across North-Central Idaho will begin Thursday, July 25. All work will be done by September.

Flaggers will direct traffic to run on one lane of loose gravel through these work zones. All lanes will be open at night when crews are not working.

The following routes are planned to be sealcoated:

Idaho Highway 8 between Ruby Creek and Elk River: 10 miles starting July 25
Idaho Highway 7 between Orofino and Ahsahka: 4 miles starting July 31
Idaho Highway 11 between Greer and the top of the grade: 8 miles starting Aug. 1
Idaho Highway 64 between Kamiah and milepost 30.8: 4 miles starting Aug. 5
US-95 from Grangeville north to the concrete section: 12 miles starting Aug. 7
US-95 Cottonwood business loop: 2 miles starting Aug. 9
US-95 near Craigmont from Lauer Lane to Westlake Road: 2 miles starting August 12
US-95 passing lane in Culdesac Canyon at milepost 289: starting Aug. 13
US-95 between Lapwai and the Spalding Bridge: 4 miles starting Aug. 14
US-12 dike route in Lewiston: 2 miles starting Aug. 15

Note that dates and order of work are subject to change. Most sections will take two days or less to sealcoat.

Also called chip sealing, applying sealcoats protects the surface of the road and extends the lifespan of the pavement. A sticky slurry is sprayed on the road, rock chips are applied on top of the slurry and traffic compresses the chips into place for a long-lasting seal.

Reduced speeds are required on fresh sealcoats to prevent loose rocks from flying up. Following product application, work zones will be broomed off and restriped in groups, rather than one at a time.

Repairs to Greer Bridge begin next Monday

Repairs to the Greer Bridge will start Monday, July 22, with temporary signals impacting both Idaho Highway 11 and US-12 traffic until construction is complete in late September.

One lane at a time will be open over the bridge, and drivers may experience up to 15-minute delays.

This summer the driving surface will be improved, and supporting beams will be painted to protect them from rusting and to keep the bridge in service longer.

The structure was built in 1954.

To learn more about construction projects in your area, visit itdprojects.org. To find traveler information, visit 511.idaho.gov.

ITD Director Ness presents to U.S. House Subcommittee July 11

ITD Director Brian Ness presented to the Science, Space and Technology Subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives on July 11 regarding the importance of research and innovation in maximizing transportation budgets.

It was likely the most significant national stage for an ITD Director since Darrell Manning was the national American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) president in the early ‘70s.

Ness, who also serves as the Chairman of the AASHTO Special Committee on Research and Innovation, spoke to the Subcommittee about the many benefits that come from investment in transportation research. Ness, along with a few other state DOT chiefs, advocated for more federal investment, saying it would serve to multiply those positive results.

“For example, the state of Indiana spent $3.9 million on research projects in 2017 and they report that five of those research projects saved the state just under $190 million,” explained Ness. “What a great return on investment, saving 46 dollars for every dollar spent on research!”

He added that ITD used federal research dollars to help develop a new concrete mix called ‘High Early Strength Concrete’ for use in accelerated bridge construction. “That study proved the new mix can replace Ultra-High Performance Concrete, which costs $10,000 to $15,000 per cubic yard, and reduce the cost to $800 per cubic yard –a cost reduction of more than 90%.”

Ness was joined by Minnesota DOT Assistant Commissioner Tim Henkel in presenting to the subcommittee. Henkel also spoke about beefing up funding for the Federal Highway Administration’s Exploratory Advanced Research program.

“FHWA has a good program, but its funding level – just $6 million annually – is rather low,” he explained. “Universities ought to be the best sources for carrying out fundamental research, but matching requirements and program directives seeking near-term solutions appear to be resulting in a preponderance of applied research that is crowding out fundamental research.”

Director Ness concluded his testimony with one last push for funding:

“By coordinating, collaborating, pooling and leveraging time and money, and utilizing the combined knowledge and expertise of our diverse research community, we are making significant contributions and improvements to the advancement of our nation’s transportation system,” he explained.

Ness explained that investment in research, development and subsequent innovation is not only a wise use of taxpayer money, but also helps these states find ways to build or repair roads and bridges faster and more efficiently.

Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., the subcommittee’s chairwoman, introduced the topic by saying “Investing in research and development is critical to developing smart, resilient, and cost-effective transportation infrastructure for the future.”

Quotes are courtesy of AASHTO.

Multi-year construction project underway to improve US-95 and ID-53

A truck crosses the railroad bridge on ID-53 just west of US-95.

Construction is underway on Idaho Highway 53, reducing the highway to one lane with flaggers on scene as crews widen the shoulders between US-95 and Ramsey Road.

Lane closures are expected during the day for approximately two weeks, and trees west of US-95 will also be removed to accommodate a new alignment for ID-53.

This is the beginning of construction to reconfigure several roadways near the current US-95 junctions with ID-53 and Garwood Road north of Hayden, with project completion planned for fall 2021.

Work in August includes the installation of a temporary signal at ID-53 and Ramsey Road to help with extra traffic during later detours. Signal installation is scheduled to take a week, with intermittent lane closures and flaggers expected in the area at that time. A permanent signal will be placed in 2022 under a different project.

Following the temporary signal installation, traffic will be detoured in late August as the bridge over the railroad and the new interchange for US-95 and ID-53 are built, with work expected to end fall 2020.

View a video of the design for the US-95, ID-53 interchange.

Traffic on US-95 will not be impacted for the majority of construction, but traffic on ID-53 will be detoured around the bridge and interchange construction to Garwood Road via Old US-95.

In 2020 and 2021, frontage roads and an overpass at Garwood Road will be constructed. Total improvements, though not all awarded to contractors, are funded primarily with an estimated $41 million from the GARVEE program and another $13.9 million in federal aid.

Email updates are available by subscribing at itdprojects.org/us95id53.

New turn lanes added to highways near Deary and Harvard starting July 22

Construction starts Monday, July 22 to add turn lanes to Idaho Highway 9 near Deary and Harvard this summer.

Both right- and left-turn lanes will be built on ID-6 to access ID-9 in Harvard, as well on ID-8 to access ID-9 in Deary.

Work will last until late September, with flaggers stationed at the intersections. One intersection at a time will be improved, and there will be no impacts at night when crews are not working.

To learn more about construction projects in your area, visit itdprojects.org. To find traveler information, visit 511.idaho.gov.

Interstate 15 traffic restrictions planned during July 14 girder placement at Rose Road Interchange (Exit 98)

POCATELLO – The Idaho Transportation Department will move interstate traffic to the southbound side of Interstate 15 on Sunday, July 14 while girders are placed at the Rose Interchange (Exit 98). Girders are the massive concrete structures that will support the new bridge.

Traffic will be shifted starting at 6:30 a.m. The off-ramp and all lanes of I-15 will reopen by 8 p.m.

The contractor will be placing five girders that are 117 ft. long and weigh 140,000 lbs. each.

I-15 will be reduced to one lane in each direction. The northbound I-15 off-ramp at Rose Road will be closed. Traffic will be detoured to Exit 93 and will be notified with digital messaging boards prior to the off-ramp closure.

This work is part of a year-long project to reconstruct the interchange at Rose Road (Exit 98) on I-15. Construction includes widening the Rose Road overpass and increasing its vertical clearance, reconfiguring and lengthening the interchange ramps, and replacing two canal structures to support current traffic loads. The project is expected to be completed in late 2019.

More information about the I-15, Rose Road Interchange project is available at itdprojects.org/rose. Community members may sign up for email updates by texting INTERSTATE 15 to 22828 or emailing I-15construction@itd.idaho.gov.