Short term closures of rest areas to begin next week in South-central Idaho for seal coating

Weather permitting, the Idaho Transportation Department will begin seal coating the road surface of several regional rest areas next week to preserve the pavement and provide better traction for motorists.

“Over the next three weeks, we will seal coat four different rest area locations on our state routes,” said ITD South-central Idaho Project Manager Sam Purser. “This will improve the area for travelers who use these facilities.”

While work is underway, the rest areas will be temporarily closed. Electronic message boards and barricades will be in place to notify traveling motorists. A list of anticipated closure dates for each location is as follows:

July 21-22: Timmerman Rest Area (Junction of Idaho Highway 75 and US-20), south of Bellevue
July 28-30: Bliss Rest Areas (Interstate 84), west of Bliss
July 30-31: Hagerman Rest Area (US-30), south of Hagerman
August 3-5: Cotterel Rest Areas (Interstate 84), north of Sublett

“In addition to the rest area parking lots, we will also be seal coating the on and off ramps and various short portions of I-84,” stated Purser.

Seal coating is a surface treatment performed 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 rocks to properly adhere to the oil.

Rock chips placed during seal coats have potential to cause windshield damage so drivers are cautioned to slow down when traveling to and from these facilities. Motorcyclists are also encouraged to exercise extreme caution when traveling through these areas.

Work to start Monday on ID-9 pavement rehab from Deary to Harvard

A pavement rehabilitation project in which crews will repair significant cracking, grind off the top layer of the roadway, and replace it with new paving material will start Monday (July 13) from Deary to Harvard on Idaho Highway 9. The work on this 13-mile project will provide a smoother, safer ride for motorists by eliminating cracks and ruts on the road’s surface.

During this project, crews are scheduled to work Monday through Saturday during daylight hours, but may be asked to work some nights to finish the job on time. Drivers can expect a “rolling” work zone, progressing in two-mile sections as the road work progresses.

Crews will finish by applying a double sealcoat on the new stretch of road to seal the surface and provide greater traction for drivers.

Knife River Construction is the prime contractor on this $1.5-million project.

Westbound on-ramp at Sherman Avenue to close on Monday for three months

The eastbound bridge on I-90 over Pennsylvania Avenue has been replaced and is ready for traffic

The ramp at Sherman Avenue to head west on Interstate 90 will close on Monday, July 13 to allow crews to replace the westbound bridge over Pennsylvania Avenue. The closure is expected to be in place for three months.

“We have finished the other bridge for eastbound travelers, and now it’s time to switch,” project manager Shannon Stein said. “After looking at the angles needed to merge traffic from the Sherman on-ramp and bring them over to the other side, we decided it was safest to close it.”

Motorists wishing to access westbound I-90 will be detoured to 15th Street. The current detour for the closure of Pennsylvania Avenue that sends drivers to Elm Street to cross underneath the interstate will remain in place.

For drivers traveling on I-90, the two lanes of traffic will be shifted from the westbound lanes to the eastbound lanes and the newly finished bridge. This shift will happen in stages on Friday morning and Monday morning.

Work began in March to ensure continued safe travel by replacing both bridges, which were built in 1960. Replacement of the final bridge is planned for completion in October.

McElhinney named new Idaho Transportation Department Chief Operations Officer

Dan McElhinney has been selected as the Idaho Transportation Department’s new Chief Operations Officer following a thorough national search. He is expected to begin August 10.

At ITD, McElhinney will be responsible for overseeing more than 12,000 lane miles of highways and roads, more than 1,800 bridges on the State Highway System, as well as the department’s Highway Construction & Operations and Highway Development areas, plus six district offices located in regions around the state.

McElhinney comes to ITD from the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), where he serves as District 10 Director in Stockton.

As District Director, he is responsible for overseeing more than 3,500 lane miles in eight counties, leading 600 employees and managing a nearly $2 billion capital program asset management plan and an annual operating budget of more than $150 million.

Prior to accepting the Stockton position, Dan served as the San Francisco Bay Area Chief Deputy District Director, where he led more than 3,000 employees and had oversight for a construction program in excess of $10 billion.

He is a licensed civil engineer who graduated from the Colorado School of Mines in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering with Minors in Surveying and Metallurgy.

“One of the things about Dan that really impressed me was when he said a small culvert job in a remote and rural part of the state is just as important as a big construction project in the heart of a densely populated region of the state,” said ITD Director Brian Ness. “Idaho has a lot of those small, rural places, so it is important that the Chief Operations Officer bring the right mindset to work.”

Traffic shifted from westbound lanes to eastbound lanes through the Salt Lake Interchange project

As early as Tuesday of next week (July 7), traffic will shift on Interstate 84/86 at the Salt Lake Interchange project. Motorists traveling on I-84 toward Pocatello will no longer be crossed over to the westbound lanes; instead drivers traveling westbound on I-86 toward Burley will be crossed over to join them on the same set of lanes.

“Shifting all traffic off the westbound lanes to the eastbound lanes will allow for crews to work on that side of the highway,” ITD Project Manager Travis Hitchcock said. “This new traffic pattern is really a mirror image/reverse of what drivers were doing previously, and we anticipate it will be in place for approximately seven weeks.”

Traffic will remain reduced to a single lane in each direction, and the turn offs toward Salt Lake City will remain the same as before.

This project is scheduled to finish by late 2020.

Drivers should still anticipate reduced speeds through the work zone and pay close attention to signage.

Wadsworth Brothers Construction, of Draper, Utah is the prime contractor on this project.

Construction on US-26/US-93 in Blaine County to begin next week

Rehabilitation of US-26/US-93 is expected to begin next Monday (July 6), south of Carey. Work will encompass approximately seven miles of highway (milepost 196 to 203) and provide a safer and smoother ride for motorists.

US-26/US-93 between Shoshone and Carey has seen several rehabilitation projects in recent years. This is one of three remaining projects that are programmed to address the area.

“We anticipate construction to last through August,” said ITD Project Inspector Chuck Sharp. “Working during the warm summer months will allow us to complete rehabilitation and also sealcoat the highway to help preserve the road during the upcoming winter season.”

While construction is underway, traffic on this section of highway will be reduced to a single lane. A pilot car will be utilized during working hours – Monday through Thursday from 7 am to 6 pm.

Motorists should anticipate reduced speeds and watch for workers and heavy equipment throughout the work zone.

The general contractor is Western Construction of Boise.

Black Cat Road closed at Chinden, July-August 2020

Intersection of Black Cat and Chinden with stop sign

Black Cat Road will close beginning July 6 to all traffic between Larry Lane and Chinden Boulevard (US 20/26) and to through traffic between McMillan Road and Chinden, as crews make improvements to the Chinden/Black Cat intersection as part of the ChindenWest project.

Work is scheduled to occur during the day and be complete in early August. Crews will be working in the area prior to the closure relocating utilities. Although not expected, night work is allowable.

When complete, Black Cat will have a dedicated left-turn lane to Chinden and a center turn lane that connects to the existing three-lane configuration south of Larry Lane.

Traffic will be detoured via Chinden and McMillan to McDermott Road and Ten Mile Road.

Project Overview

Construction is ongoing in segments of Chinden between Eagle Road and Star Road. Specifically, paving operations to widen the highway to two-lanes in each direction is underway between Linder Road and State Highway 16, and turning movements are restricted between Locust Grove Road and Eagle as crews prepare this segment for widening. Most work is scheduled for completion in late fall 2020.

The corridor, dubbed ChindenWest, is a vital east-west corridor in the heart of the Treasure Valley. The construction will add travel lanes, widen shoulders, and build a separated path parallel to the roadway.

The project website, ITDprojects.org/ChindenWest, serves as a hub of information for the public, including videos that provide a window into the future. The one-stop-shop website includes detailed information about construction activities, anticipated traffic impacts, and the improvement designs.

Idaho Transportation Department now taking suggestions from residents for upcoming projects

Photo of traffic using the Northwest Boulevard exit on I-90

The Idaho Transportation Department is asking for input on the just–released draft Idaho Transportation Improvement Program (ITIP). The 2021-2027 draft ITIP is a seven-year plan of the state’s transportation improvements, and all stakeholders are encouraged to participate.

Projects can range from large-scale interstate improvements to smaller projects like the installation of a new guardrail. In all, the draft ITIP includes projects in all 44 counties and all modes of transportation. Projects were selected based on technical data, as well as input from local officials and residents.

A complete breakdown of the draft plan can be found at itd.idaho.gov/funding, as well as an interactive map that allows users to learn about projects by narrowing it down to specific categories and locations.

A few of the major projects in North Idaho include:

– A study in 2021 to develop an environmental document to identify impacts for future I-90 expansion
– The addition of a third westbound lane on I-90 between Atlas Road and Government Way and on the Northwest Boulevard exit in 2027
–A study in 2021 to identify optimal locations for wildlife crossings on US-95 between Grnaite Hill and Sandpoint
– Several turn lanes on US-95 in 2027 at Mountain Meadows north of Naples, Kootenai Trail/Cabinet Mountain south of Bonners Ferry, West Elmira Road in Elmira and Conkling Road south of Worley
– Turn lanes and lighting at Idaho Highway 41 and Spirit Bend in Spirit Lake in 2027

– Flashing beacon at Idaho Highway 53 and Atlas Road east of Rathdrum in 2027

Comments will be taken from July 1-31 and can be e-mailed to ITDcommunication@itd.idaho.gov or mailed to:

ITIP – Comments
Attn: Aubrie Spence
P.O. Box 7129
Boise, ID 83707

Paper copies of the ITIP will be provided upon request by contacting Aubrie at (208) 334-8119.

All comments will be reviewed, incorporated into the ITIP where appropriate, and responses will be sent in August once the comment period has ended.

After approval by the Idaho Transportation Board in September, the ITIP will then be submitted to the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Transit Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency in October.

Idaho Transportation Department now taking suggestions from residents for upcoming projects

Photo of future US-95 alignment in Moscow

A few of the major projects in North-Central Idaho include:

US-95 expansion from Thorn Creek Road to Moscow in 2021 – 2022
Replacement of the East Kooskia Bridge on Idaho Highway 13 in 2027
Turn lanes on US-95 north of Moscow at Estes Road and North Foothills Road in 2027

Notable changes to projects already in the program include the delay of two bridge replacements in Potlatch from 2021 to 2022 and another project to add turn lanes at US-95 and County Road in Grangeville from 2021 to 2023.

Comments will be taken from July 1-31 and can be e-mailed to ITDcommunication@itd.idaho.gov or mailed to:

ITIP – Comments
Attn: Aubrie Spence
P.O. Box 7129
Boise, ID 83707

Paper copies of the ITIP will be provided upon request by contacting Aubrie at (208) 334-8119.

All comments will be reviewed, incorporated into the ITIP where appropriate, and responses will be sent in August once the comment period has ended.

Idaho Goes Hands-Free July 1

A driver heads down I-84 in Meridian with both hands on the wheel.

On July 1, 2020 drivers in Idaho will no longer be able to use handheld electronic devices while driving.

Idaho is about to become the latest state to have a hands-free driving law on the books. Earlier this year the Idaho legislature passed House Bill 614 banning the use of handheld electronic devices while operating a motor vehicle. The new law takes effect on July 1.

Distracted driving is a contributing factor in about one out of every five crashes in Idaho. Between 2014 and 2018, there were 241 people killed in distracted driving crashes across the state with hundreds more seriously injured.

While most of us choose to drive engaged by putting away distractions and focusing on the road – the new law may be a timely reminder for others to drive well.

Here are some answers to questions you might have about Idaho’s newest traffic safety law:

We already have a distracted driving law, so how is this new law different?

In 2012, the legislature passed a law that prohibited texting — this statute will be repealed once the new law becomes effective. The old law focused on the act of texting and driving and did not provide provisions for other uses of phones like using social media, watching or capturing videos, or playing video games. The new law accounts for many of the additional ways we use electronic devices.

Another notable change in the law is its definition of operating a motor vehicle. For the former texting and driving law to be enforced, it required the driver to be texting while driving a vehicle in motion. The new law applies when you drive or have physical control of a motor vehicle in a travel lane on a public roadway – even if you are temporarily stopped at a stop sign or a traffic signal. Keep in mind, if you are parked out of the travel lane, you can use your phone.

Under the new law, use of a handheld electronic device becomes a moving violation and carries a progressive fine for multiple violations within a three year period.

My city already has a hands-free ordinance, do I need to keep that in mind?

Once the law takes effect, it will preempt all local ordinances in relation to hands-free driving. In other words, the expectation statewide is that we put our phones away while we drive.

Will drivers get a chance to get used to the new law?

One of the provisions of the new law is that people won’t receive citations for violations in the first six months in order to educate the public about the new law. But just because law enforcement officers aren’t issuing citations doesn’t mean they aren’t enforcing the law. You can still be stopped by officers is they see you driving with a handheld device.

There are a lot of other distractions, so why are we only focusing on the phone?

Distracted driving happens when you participate in any activity that takes your attention away from the act of driving. Anyone who drives can tell attest to the fact that there is a nearly endless list of possible distractions.

No matter the distraction, it falls into one of three categories: manual, visual, or cognitive. When you use a phone or other handheld electronic device you are participating in all three types of distractions at once. Putting the phone away eliminates two of these three types of distractions and put you in a position to be better prepared to anticipate and react to the road.