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The Idaho Transportation Department will have daytime ramp closures at Exit 141, both on and off ramps, for up to two weeks during work to rehabilitate the pavement on US-30. Closure of the ramps will ensure the work is completed more efficiently and for the safety of the work crews.

During the daytime ramp closures at Exit 141, all drivers will be detoured to Exit 137 about four miles west of Bliss. Ramps at Exit 141 will be opened as work concludes each day; impacts are expected to be complete by July 29.

The ramp closures are part of a project to extend the life of US-30 through Bliss by recycling the existing asphalt, adding cement to better stabilize the roadway base, and repaving the roadway. Construction on US-30 through Bliss is expected to be completed in early fall.

For more information on this project go to Idaho 511.

Motorists should watch for new traffic patterns on State Highway 27 as part of the reconstruction of the northbound lanes and bridge over Interstate 84 at the Burley Interchange. Beginning tomorrow, the Idaho Transportation Department will implement the following changes while the new road and structure are under construction:

• Northbound and southbound SH-27 traffic will shift to the west.
• The I-84 westbound on-ramp to SH-27 will be shifted to the north.
• The westbound I-84 on-ramp will be closed on the west side of SH-27.
• The on-ramp located on the east side of SH-27 will provide westbound access to I-84. The on-ramp will be controlled by a temporary traffic signal.

Motorists should slow down and follow construction signage in the work zone to adjust to the new traffic pattern which will be in place until fall 2025.

Reconstruction of the Burley Interchange is expected to cost $85.1 million.

Built in the early 1960s, the interchange has reached the end of its service life. ITD is focused on improving safety, mobility, and economic opportunity for all users who travel this important agricultural and industrial route.

Construction is being funded as part of Idaho Governor Brad Little’s Leading Idaho transportation funding initiative. The Leading Idaho initiative allows ITD to take a deliberate approach to advance large projects that will enhance safety, improve mobility, further strengthen Idaho’s economy, and positively impact the Magic Valley and communities across the state for years to come.

To learn more about the project, please visit itdprojects.org/projects/i-84-burley-and-heyburninterchanges.

An emergency repair on Interstate 84 near the Salt Lake City Interchange will begin on July 17 to fix concrete pavement that is starting to fail. The pavement has lifted several inches causing a noticeable bump near one of the bridge decks through the region. This bump can be not only disruptive to motorists but poses a safety hazard.

 

Westbound traffic will be reduced to one lane and the speed limit has been reduced to 55 mph. Bump warning signs have been placed until the repair can be completed. The repair should take 5 days. Drivers should properly secure loose items on their vehicles, slow down and use extra caution through the area. 

 

For traffic impacts and information go to 511.idaho.gov

7/25/2024 7:00 a.m. update: Rain helped the firefighting effort. Interstate 84 is currently open.

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7/24/2024 1:00 p.m. update:  Large commercial traffic is restricted until further notice on State Highway 71 between Cambridge and the Oregon state line due to fire activity.  Using SH-71 to access Oregon is not a suitable detour for interstate trucks. SH-71, between Cambridge and the Oregon state line, is narrow and winding. To maintain traffic flow and ensure safety, non-essential commercial vehicles over 26,000 pounds are now prohibited from using this route.

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7/24/2024 12:30 p.m. update: I-84 is closed due to fire activity.  The fire has reached I-84 and it is not safe for travelers. Fire officials do not want people to travel to Ontario to wait. The fire is expected to grow as winds are forecasted in the area, there’s no estimate on when it will reopen.
Consider alternative travel options and for the latest information, keep an eye on TripCheck or Idaho 511.

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7/24/2024 9:30 a.m. update: The I-84 corridor has reopened, but due to the unpredictable nature of wildfires, travelers should be prepared for potential closures and are advised not to rely on this route.

Idaho travelers are urged to use 511.idaho.gov for traffic impacts.

Oregon travelers are urged to use Tripcheck.com for up-to-date information.

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This information is from the Oregon Department of Transportation

PENDLETON – If you plan to travel across Oregon in the coming days, make sure you carefully plan your route. I-84 and many other highways in eastern Oregon may be closed or unreliable due to wildfires. With a long hot summer ahead, other fires and closures throughout the state are likely.

Wildfires are unpredictable and we have no estimate on opening times for any fire-impacted highways. Previous plans for a nighttime only closure of I-84 to remove brush along the highway were upended when the fire quickly reached the highway. Fire crews are actively fighting fire from I-84.

Travelers should use U.S. 20 to move east or west across central and eastern Oregon. If you must travel, consult Tripcheck.com and check conditions for your route. Here are some other tips while traveling in wildfire season:

• Do not follow GPS directions or detour on local or forest roads. These roads are not suitable for interstate traffic. If a highway is closed on Tripcheck.com, it is likely that nearby local roads will be closed as well.
• Expect power outages near wildfires. Treat non-working traffic lights like a four-way stop. Roadside message boards and Tripcheck cameras may also be out in these areas.
• Carry extra supplies including food and water in case your trip is delayed.
• Driving in smoke is like driving in heavy fog. Slow down but keep a steady pace and stay alert. Slow driving gives you more time to respond to unexpected conditions.
• Turn on headlights when driving in smoky areas.
• The best place to wait for a highway to open is at home. Do not travel to the closure points and wait as closures could last for days.

Fire information can be found on the National Interagency Fire Center’s website. 

Throughout the months of July, August and September, Idaho Transportation Department striping crews will be laying down a fresh coat of paint on large sections of highways across the Panhandle. The following schedule will help drivers to be aware of upcoming temporary work zones that may affect them and plan ahead. Every year crews stripe hundreds of miles, and on heavily traveled routes like I-90, apply two coats of paint.

JULY 

US-95 Byway in Sandpoint

                               US-95 from Sandpoint to Athol

US-95 from Athol to Coeur d’Alene

SH-41 from I-90 to Rathdrum

US-95 from Coeur d’Alene to the Latah County line

SH-53 from Rathdrum to the Washington State line

Post Falls business loop

AUGUST             

EARLY                     SH-58 from the Coeur d’Alene Casino to the Washington State line

SH-60 from US-95 to the Washington State line

SH-5 from Plummer to St. Maries

MID                         SH-3 from I-90 to the Latah County Line

SH-6 from the SH-3 Junction to the Latah County line

LATE INTO              SH-97 from I-90 to the SH-3 Junction

EARLY SEPT            SH-4 from Wallace to Burke

Wallace, Mullan, and Osburn business loops

 

During striping operations teams are organized into a line of pace cars flanking the paint truck and are followed by a crash cushion trailer to ensure the safety of the crew.  This configuration of vehicles travels slowly as they paint the roadway markings to ensure lines that will last through the year. While the paint itself is very bright, retro-reflective beads are also mixed in to help catch and reflect light to improve nighttime visibility.

Pace cars alert motorists of the operation and slow down traffic so drivers do not go over the paint before it dries. It is important for drivers to avoid drifting over the lines on either side of their lane or trying to pass where striping is in progress.

Striping operations occur primarily during daylight hours and are performed in the summer when temperatures are consistently warm enough to ensure the paint dries quickly and adheres securely to the road. Most frequently these operations are carried out during weekdays, but there are occasional needs for weekend work. Crews start as early as 5 a.m. to avoid peak commute times and try to pull off so others can pass where they have room to do so safely.

Drivers who encounter the mobile paint operations are asked to be patient for the safety of motorists and crews, and to follow the guidance of all work zone signs, especially for no passing.

Updated information will be available throughout the summer on Idaho 511.

Motorists can expect improvements at the intersection of U.S. Highway 95 and Truck Route Bypass Road at the north side of Grangeville starting today.

A northbound right turn lane and southbound left turn lane will be added to US-95.  The turn bays will enhance safety by allowing turning traffic to pull out of the travel lanes to decelerate.

Additionally, about 100 feet of the Truck Route Bypass Road will be regraded to provide a smoother transition onto US-95. Other improvements on the project will include the installation of new culverts and regraded ditches for stormwater transport.

Lane closures with flaggers and pilot car should be expected.  The work zone will be short in length and delays should be minimum at 15 minutes.

Construction will conclude by the end of September. Live traffic impacts across the region can be found by visiting 511.idaho.gov. Travelers can also dial 5-1-1 or download the app.

The Idaho Transportation Department will intermittently close 10th Avenue under Interstate 84 in Caldwell beginning on Monday. These closures are necessary for crews to safely demolish the westbound lanes of the I-84 bridge. The intermittent closures will occur through September.

Motorists can expect:

• 10th Avenue will close during weekdays and may reopen on weekends.
• Traffic will detour to Centennial Way. See a detour map.
• Pedestrians will be detoured to the pedestrian overpass over I-84. See a detour map.
• Access to businesses will remain open, but routes may change during the closures.
• After 10^th Avenue reopens, crews plan to restrict it to one lane in each direction until next year.

Crews will demolish the westbound side of the bridge section by section, which will take several weeks to complete. Closing 10^th Avenue will give crews the space they need to bring multiple pieces of equipment in and out of the work zone safely.

“This closure will help us complete the bridge demo as quickly as possible while keeping the traveling public safe,” Resident Engineer Styles Salek said. “We will do everything we can to re-open 10th Avenue quickly, and we thank everyone for their patience in the meantime.”

This bridge demolition is part of ITD’s I-84 Centennial Way to Franklin Road project, which is widening the interstate to three lanes in each direction, replacing the 10th Avenue Interchange and adding a soundwall along Hannibal Street from 10^th Avenue to Centennial Way. This project is expected to be completed in 2027.

For more information about the project and to stay updated on closure dates:

• Visit: itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/I-84-corridor
• Text: Click here or text 84CORRIDOR to 1-866-483-8422
• Email: Click here or email 84CORRIDOR@itd.idaho.gov
• Call: (208) 334-8002

Please use caution when driving through the work zone. To plan your route in advance, visit 511.idaho.gov.