Following a speed study of I-84 in the urbanized parts of the Treasure Valley, the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is reducing the speed limit on the western side of Caldwell to 65 MPH.
The current speed limit on I-84 traveling west goes from 65 MPH to 80 MPH after the Notus/Parma Exit (Exit 26). Due to the high number of vehicles using Middleton Exit (Exit 25) both east- and westbound coupled with varying speeds of thru traffic and merging vehicles, the Department determined a speed reduction was warranted. The 65 MPH speed zone will now extend west of Exit 25. Crews will place new speed limit signs today.
“We observed significant variations in speeds, with entering traffic speeding up to merge with I-84 traffic, which was slowing for the speed limit change,” said ITD Traffic Technical Engineer Erika Bowen. “This resulted in a number of near misses between cars on the Interstate and those looking to enter. Given the high demand at the Middleton Exit, we believe the change will improve the driving conditions in this area.”
ITD routinely studies sections of the State Highways System to ensure the safety, mobility, and economic opportunity of the traveling public is best served. Staff looks at the pavement condition, crash history, geometry, signage, and observed driver behavior when considering changes to the highway.
Over the last five years, growth near the Middleton Exit has seen an increase of 5,000 vehicles per day added to this section of I-84. During the evening commute, congestion often occurs at Exit 25 causing backups on the westbound off-ramps. ITD is looking at solutions for this separate situation to improve the efficiency of the interchange.
CHUBBUCK – The city of Chubbuck and the Idaho Transportation Department have partnered to make safety improvements at the US-91 Yellowstone and Bullock Street intersection.
The city plans to start improvements around 5 a.m. on Sunday (June 23) and finish by early afternoon the same day.
The city’s safety improvement plans are to install traffic separators in the median from Breneman Street to the Chubbuck Interchange, which will make the intersection right-in, right-out access.
The Bullock Street & US-91 intersection is rated the 13th-highest crash location in the State of Idaho as of 2017. The need for safety improvements at this high-traffic intersection and for this section of roadway is a high priority for ITD and the city of Chubbuck.
Motorists are encouraged to check 511.idaho.gov for roadway information.
Resurfacing of White Bird Grade on US-95 is planned to start next week, with work beginning as early as Monday, June 24.
More than seven miles of the south side of the grade will be paved, with one lane open in each direction until construction is completed in August.
Work is expected during the day, with some weekend shifts possible. Paving is expected to start at the top of the grade and progress downhill.
Three runaway truck ramps will also be improved, requiring temporary closures. Larger vehicles will be notified at the top of the hill if any ramps are closed before descending.
Earlier this year, crews updated guardrail and signage in the area. More information on construction projects is available at itdprojects.org.
The public is invited to an open house next Tuesday, June 18 to learn about safety improvements planned for US-95 near McArthur Lake south of Naples.
The meeting will last from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Naples Elementary (145 Schoolhouse Road), with members of the public welcome to attend at any time to ask questions and give comment.
Planned to start construction in 2022, improvements include reconstructing one mile of the highway to realign sharp curves and replace the culvert at Deep Creek.
The culvert will be replaced with a 300-foot bridge with enough clearance for wildlife to pass underneath rather than cross the highway.
More information is available at itdprojects.org/us95mcarthurlake, and comments will be accepted online until July 2.
RIGBY – The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) are initiating an Environmental Assessment (EA) to engage the public and evaluate impacts, risks, benefits, opportunities and costs associated with roadway improvements and reconstruction of US-20 between Chester and Ashton. The public is invited to attend an upcoming meeting to learn more about the EA and provide input.
A public meeting will be held Tuesday, June 11 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Ashton Community Center, 925 Main Street, Ashton, ID. The meeting is in an open-house format, so citizens are encouraged to attend any time during the three-hour period. Displays illustrating the study process, purpose, schedule, and geography will be available for review. Project staff will be available to provide information, discuss potential impacts, and answer questions about the study.
The Chester-to-Ashton segment of US-20 has not been redesigned since 1932. The current roadway design does not provide sufficient traffic flow or passing opportunities to accommodate growing traffic volumes. The pavement is also beyond routine service life, requiring improvements to the subgrade and drainage features as well as new pavement. Reconstruction also will provide the opportunity to include design elements for reducing crashes.
“ITD and FHWA’s purpose in preparing an EA is to develop and evaluate one or more practicable alternatives for addressing the needs of US-20 between Chester and Ashton,” said ITD’s eastern Idaho project manager Drew Meppen. “We look forward to visiting with the public and getting feedback on the project purpose and need, issues they are experiencing on the highway, and suggested alternatives for improvements.”
If citizens are unable to attend the meeting on June 11, displays and information will be available on the EA website the following day (https://itdprojects.org/projects/us20-chester-to-ashton-ea/). Comments on the materials can be sent to Andrea Gumm at agumm@langdongroup.inc or 208-220-5937. Comments are most helpful if received by July 11, 2019.
FHWA is the lead agency for the EA. The EA is being completed in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). For more information, please contact Gumm at the phone number or email address provided above.
Starting next week, contractors will begin constructing temporary lanes for a project to replace a bridge and realign curves on one mile east of Potlatch on Idaho Highway 6.
Work will start near Gold Creek as crews build temporary lanes around the existing structure to be used during its replacement. These temporary lanes will be in place from late June until the bridge is completed in late October.
Once the temporary lanes are completed, crews will start moving dirt for realignment of the highway. Work will progress from town towards the bridge, with most earthwork occurring off the existing road.
Speed will be reduced during construction due to trucks entering and exiting the highway and the temporary alignment over Gold Creek. Flaggers will periodically reduce the highway to one lane. Two lanes will be open outside of work hours.
Work to widen a sharp curve in Potlatch will begin in early October. Drivers should expect only one lane with flaggers during the day and two lanes with gravel surfaces during non-working hours.
Construction is set to be complete by the end of October. Learn more at itdprojects.org/id6potlatchcurves.
As part of ongoing construction to repair bridges on Interstate 90 and overpasses in Post Falls, crews will close two ramps at Spokane Street this weekend and next week to apply a sealing treatment to protect the driving surface.
The westbound on-ramp will be closed the weekend of Friday, June 7 but will be open for the morning commute on Monday, June 10. Following that closure, the eastbound off-ramp will be closed Monday night (June 10) through Friday night (June 14). Nighttime closures are planned from approximately 7:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.
Conditions on I-90 near the Huetter and Atlas bridges are expected to revert back to normal by the end of this week but work will continue on overpasses at night until early July.
Another project to reduce rutting from the Washington-Idaho border to the Northwest Boulevard exit in CDA will begin in July and last until September.
Information on the bridge maintenance project can be found at itdprojects.org/i90bridgespf, and information on the resurfacing project can be found at itdprojects.org/i90statelineresurfacing.
The public is invited to an open house on Tuesday, June 11 to learn about plans to widen and repair the Clearwater Memorial Bridge.
The open house will be at the Red Lion Hotel (621 21st Street) from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Community members will have an opportunity to learn about the project, which is scheduled to start construction in 2023.
“The existing structure was built in 1951, and some of its components are nearing the end of their service life,” ITD project manager Curtis Arnzen said. “ITD is making major plans to improve the bridge to ensure that it will serve the region for many years into the future.”
Plans include widening the shoulders and sidewalks over the structure, as well as creating a wider median to divide lanes.
For more information and to comment online after the meeting, visit itdprojects.org/us12memorialbridge.
UPDATE (June 11)
I-84 detours in Nampa have been extended due to equipment-related delays during the Karcher Overpass girder placement. A detour will be in place Tuesday and Wednesday nights (June 11 and 12) between the Karcher/Midland and Northside Boulevard interchanges.
- Eastbound I-84 will be closed overnight Tuesday, June 11. A detour will begin at 10 p.m. Tuesday and end at 5 a.m. Wednesday, June 12.
- Westbound I-84 will be closed overnight Wednesday, June 12. A detour will begin at 10 p.m. Wednesday and end at 6 a.m. Thursday, June 13.
Original Story (June 4)
ITD will require overnight closures on Interstate 84 in Nampa next Tuesday and Wednesday nights (June 10 and 11) to place girders on the new Karcher Road Overpass.
- Eastbound I-84 will be closed overnight Monday, June 10. A detour will begin at 10 p.m. Monday and end at 5 a.m. Tuesday, June 11.
- Westbound I-84 will be closed overnight Tuesday, June 11. A detour will begin at 10 p.m. Tuesday and end at 6 a.m. Wednesday, June 12.
Motorists will follow a detour route on Karcher Road both nights. See detour map below.
“ITD will place 10 steel girders over the two nights. Each girder is 136 feet long and weighs approximately 115,670 pounds,” said Alex Deduck, ITD Design/Construction Engineer. “This is no small operation and we appreciate the patience of the traveling public during the detour.”
ITD is replacing the Karcher Overpass to accommodate additional lanes on I-84. Construction to widen I-84 will begin later this summer.
For more information, visit itdprojects.org/84Corridor, text 84CORRIDOR to 22828 or listen to “Drive Idaho,” ITD’s new podcast series on I-84. Drive Idaho is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other major podcast players.
