Independence Day is nearly and for many of us that means fireworks, barbeques and road trips.
As Idahoans prepare for their holiday travels, the Idaho Office of Highway Safety reminds them to be engaged behind the wheel.
“It’s an exciting time of year,” said Highway Safety Manager John Tomlinson. “There is so much going on both inside and outside of the car that it really takes a conscious effort to stay focused.”
The busy travel holiday comes in the midst of the 100 Deadliest Days on Idaho roads. Since the Memorial Day weekend there have been at least 30 people killed in traffic crashes.
This year, is expected to be a busy one for people looking to get away for the Fourth of July both nationally and right here in Idaho. AAA predicts 47 million people will travel for the holiday, including a quarter million Idahoans.
“As with the national totals, we expect about a five percent increase in auto travel and an eight percent increase in air travel,” said Matthew Conde, public affairs director for AAA Idaho. “July 3 is expected to be the busiest day, particularly as vacationers mingle with commuters in the afternoon.”
In addition to additional motorists being on the roads, there will also be an increased presence from law enforcement agencies taking part in a statewide effort to get drunk drivers off the road.
“A lot of holiday cookouts involve alcohol and we just don’t want to see people get behind the wheel after a few drinks,” Tomlinson said.
“We also encourage careful and responsible celebration – alcohol does not mix well with fireworks, boating, or driving,” added Conde.
To extend the life of previously completed highway projects, sealcoats will be applied to several highways throughout the region starting July 9. The newly-treated surface helps preserve the pavement and provides for better vehicle traction.
When sealcoats are applied, roadways will be reduced to one lane. Motorists should anticipate short delays and watch for the presence of pilot cars.
Sealcoating is a roadway surface treatment best applied during the hot and dry months of summer when chips of aggregate will properly adhere to an oil layer deposited on the highway.
Drivers are cautioned to slow down and pay attention within the work zones, as chips placed during the sealcoating process have the potential to cause windshield damage.
Crews will begin applying sealcoats in the order below:
- July 9: Idaho Highway 8 from Moscow to Troy (11.7 miles)
- July 12: Idaho Highway 8 from Deary to Bovill (10.2 miles)
- July 16: Idaho Highway 11 from Greer to the top of Greer Grade (8 miles)
- July 20: Idaho Highway 11 from Weippe to Grangemont Road (11 miles)
All sealcoats are expected to be completed by the end of July.
Repairs to Idaho Highway 5 near Plummer will begin the week of July 9.
Construction will fix damage caused by a March 2017 landslide at milepost 5.8. Crews will remove and replace unstable material below the highway. New material is designed to anchor the hillside and prevent future landslides.
Travelers can expect short delays while flaggers and signals guide traffic through the one-lane work zone. Crews will typically be on site every day but Sunday.
Construction will last two months. Check 511 for the latest traffic updates.
Fifty miles of US-12 will be paved this summer to improve mobility and safety in the area, with work set to start on the first section during the week of July 9.
The 27-mile section between Tumble Creek and Saddle Camp Road will be resurfaced first, followed by the 23-mile section between Warm Springs and the Idaho-Montana border, which is expected to begin in August.
The highway will be reduced to one lane during both paving projects, with flaggers and pilot cars in place to guide traffic through work zones. A daytime shuttle service will be provided to safely transport bicyclists through the longer work zones. Once a schedule is finalized, it will be published on the project website and the corridor newsletter.
Paving operations are anticipated to take place at night to minimize impacts to the traveling public, but travelers should expect flagging operations and delays during the day.
During construction, travelers on US-12 between Lowell and the border should plan for delays up to two hours, as other projects to replace Fish Creek and Maggie Creek bridges are already underway. Due to the remote location and length of the work zones, travelers are also advised to fill up their gas tanks before driving through construction.
Construction for all US-12 projects will conclude this summer, bringing nearly $17 million of much-needed infrastructure and safety improvements.
To learn more and to subscribe to updates, visit itd.idaho.gov/US12. For immediate construction impacts on this and other routes, visit 511.idaho.gov.
To extend the life of previously completed highway projects, sealcoats will be applied to several highways throughout the region starting the week of July 9.
When sealcoats are applied, roadways will be reduced to one lane. Motorists should anticipate short delays and watch for the presence of pilot cars.
Sealcoating is a roadway surface treatment best applied during the hot and dry months of summer when chips of aggregate will properly adhere to an oil layer deposited on the highway. The newly-treated surface helps preserve the pavement and provides for better vehicle traction.
Drivers are cautioned to slow down and pay attention within the work zones, as chips placed during the sealcoating process have the potential to cause windshield damage.
Sealcoating projects scheduled to occur this summer along with their anticipated start date, location and length are as follows:
- July 9: Idaho Highway 3 — approximately 31 miles from the Coeur d’Alene River Bridge to the Canyon Creek Road area
- July 16: Idaho Highway 58 — approximately 3 miles from the Washington border to the US-95 junction
- July 17: Idaho Highway 54 — approximately 3.5 miles from the Goodhope Road traffic circle through Farragut State Park
- July 18: US-95 — approximately 6 miles from Fawn Lane to the Idaho Highway 1 junction
- July 19: US-95 — approximately 19 miles from Samuels Road to Tamarack Street
Crews will repaint the highways after sealcoating. All work is expected to be completed by early August.
The Idaho Transportation Department will close the left-most lane of eastbound Interstate 84 beneath the Cloverdale Overpass Sunday, July 1. This will allow crews to perform work in preparation for replacing the damaged bridge.
Crews will drill beneath the existing bridge to test the soil composition. This will inform what treatment is needed for the foundation of the replacement bridge for Cloverdale Road. The replacement, currently being designed by ITD engineers will feature four 11-foot travel lanes, 5.5-foot raised bike lanes, and 7.5-foot sidewalks.
The single-lane closure is expected to begin early Sunday morning and stay in place for most of the day.
Drivers are encouraged to use caution in the work zone. For updated information on traffic impacts on the State Highway System, please visit 511 online at 511.idaho.gov.
UPDATE 7/3/18: Second water test comes back clean, so boil order lifted and water fountain reopens this afternoon.
UPDATE 6/30/18: Additional water testing at the Hagerman rest area on US-30 has come back negative for E. coli. Another test is slated for today, Monday 7/2.
Below is the initial release on the subject:
SHOSHONE—On Thursday, June 28 E. coli bacteria were found in the Hagerman Rest Area water supply located south of Hagerman on US-30. The discovery was made during routine quarterly testing conducted by the Idaho Transportation Department.
Drinking fountains have been disabled but the rest area will remain open while ITD works with the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality to investigate the cause and take corrective actions on the issue.
Bacterial contamination can occur when increased run-off enters the drinking water source (for example, following heavy rains). It can also happen due to a break in the distribution system (pipes) or a failure in the water treatment process.
What should I do? What does this mean?
- DO NOT DRINK THE WATER WITHOUT BOILING IT FIRST. Bring all water to a boil, let it boil for one minute and let it cool before using, or use bottled water. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and food preparation until further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.
- E. coli are bacteria whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes. Human pathogens in these wastes can cause short-term effects, such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a greater health risk for infants, young children, the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems.
- The symptoms above are not caused only by organisms in drinking water. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical advice. People at increased risk should seek advice from their healthcare providers about drinking this water.
What is being done?
ITD is completing a comprehensive assessment of the water system as well as monitoring and operational practices to identify and correct any causes of the contamination.
Public will be informed when tests show no bacteria are present and there is no longer need to boil drinking water. It is anticipate that the problem will be resolved within 7 days.
For more information, please contact ITD at 208-886-7808 or ITD 216 South Date St. Shoshone ID 83352. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by bacteria and other disease-causing organisms are available from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
Crews are currently working to stabilize and prepare to remove the overhead sign structure on the Kootenai River Bridge just north of Bonners Ferry this evening after it appears to have been struck by a vehicle.
The steel sign structure, which is estimated to weigh approximately 10,000 pounds, remains bolted in place next to the northbound lanes, but the post near the southbound lanes has become detached. The sign structure remains upright but could be blown over by strong winds.
Crews are on site, ready to close the bridge to traffic if necessary. ITD has contracted a private company to remove the sign with a crane, which is expected to arrive in the next few hours. All lanes will be closed during removal of the sign structure. However, the bridge may close even earlier if strong winds threaten the stability of the damaged sign structure.
During the removal of the sign, all lanes will be closed. Travelers should expect other traffic impacts while crews set up the crane, remove the sign and disassemble the sign and the crane.
Please exercise caution in the area as ITD adjusts traffic flow while addressing this safety issue.
The Ada County Highway District Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to support ITD’s plan to replace the Cloverdale Road bridge over Interstate 84.
The concurrence provides a unified front for ACHD and ITD on how best to address this emergency. The Idaho Transportation Board passed a resolution last week to replace the Cloverdale bridge with a $6-8 million structure.
ITD and ACHD developed a preliminary design for the replacement bridge that will match the county highway district’s long-range plans for Cloverdale Road. ITD District 3 Engineer Amy Revis presented this plan to the ACHD Board on Wednesday. It includes four 11-foot travel lanes, a 5.5-foot raised bike lane, and a 7.5-foot sidewalk.
“I am grateful for the full support of the ACHD Board of Commissioners,” said Revis. “The collaboration between our agencies will help create a bridge that will serve this area well for many years to come. I ask the public to exercise patience as we construct these needed improvements.”
ITD engineers have already been gathering information needed for designing the replacement bridge. When a design is complete, the department will seek bids from contractors to construct the bridge.
The old bridge will remain closed until the new bridge is complete, which is expected to take 12 months. ITD closed the Cloverdale bridge due to extensive damage caused by a fatal crash Saturday, June 16.
The replacement will not include on- or off-ramps to I-84. ITD’s goal is to reopen the important crossing point at Cloverdale quickly. The study and analysis of adding ramps and alternative actions in the area would greatly delay that goal.
