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.
Rehabilitation of the westbound lanes on Interstate 84 between Jerome and Twin Falls is expected to begin next Monday (May 11). Work will encompass approximately seven miles of highway (milepost 166 to 173) and provide a safer and smoother ride for motorists.
“Initial work will include construction of traffic crossovers and temporary ramps,” said ITD South-central Idaho Project Manager Brock Dillé. “Building a temporary ramp at Exit 173 will allow us to keep traffic moving without detouring motorists during construction.”
The first phase of the project is expected to last until July of this year. Once construction of crossovers and temporary ramps are complete, rehabilitation of the roadway will begin.
“This project was originally scheduled to begin in 2022,” said Dillé. “Due to efficiencies and cost-savings throughout the department, ITD was able to expedite this high priority route in order to provide a better highway for commercial and passenger vehicles two years earlier than anticipated.”
While construction is underway, traffic on this section of I-84 will be reduced to a single lane in each direction. Motorists should anticipate reduced speeds and watch for workers and heavy equipment throughout the work zone.
Rehabilitation of the westbound lanes is expected to be complete by the end of this year. Work on the eastbound lanes will begin in the spring of 2021.
The general contractor is Western Construction of Boise.
Underway since May 2018, substantial progress has been made on the Interstate 84/86 Salt Lake City Interchange in Cassia County. With this project, the Idaho Transportation Department is replacing the old interchange with a new structure that will meet current standards and provide a better driving experience for motorists.
“This is a vital travel and commerce corridor for not only this area, but for the entire state,” said ITD Project Manager Travis Hitchcock. “Our goal is to construct an interchange that will serve motorists for many years to come.”
As work proceeds, drivers should anticipate a continuation of reduced speeds and changing traffic patterns through the work zone.
“There will be varying detours over the next several months as work on specific portions of the structure occurs,” stated ITD Project Inspector Jack Kelly. “It’s important that motorists not follow their GPS but instead pay close attention to signage which is in place to safely direct motorists through the area.”
Construction is scheduled to finish by late 2020.
Wadsworth Brothers Construction, of Draper, Utah is the prime contractor on this project.
Beginning tomorrow night (Oct. 29) at 10 p.m., a new detour will be in place for motorists heading east on Interstate 84/86 from Burley toward Pocatello. During this time, crews will install new structures to hold overhead signage.
Weather permitting, this temporary traffic pattern is expected to last until 6 a.m. on Wednesday, October 30.
“Unlike previous detours that have been occurring in this area, this portion of construction requires that we direct motorists completely off of the interstate,” said ITD Project Manager Travis Hitchcock. “Directing traffic to Idaho Highway 77 and Idaho Highway 81 will allow for safe installation of the structures without traffic traveling underneath.”
This is part of the Salt Lake Interchange replacement project, underway since May of last year. Construction is scheduled to finish by late 2020.
Drivers should still anticipate reduced speeds through the work zone and pay close attention to signage in place to safely direct motorists through the area.
Wadsworth Brothers Construction, of Draper, Utah is the prime contractor on this project.
The Idaho Transportation Department is expected to begin repairs next Wednesday (July 31) on Interstate 84 east of Jerome to improve roadway conditions for motorists. Work will occur between milepost 166 and 174 on both eastbound and westbound lanes.
While crews are onsite, directional traffic will be reduced to one lane.
Repairs are anticipated to take place between 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Drivers should exercise caution and watch for crews on the following days:
– Wednesday & Thursday (July 31 – August 1)
– Monday & Tuesday (August 5 – August 6)
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.
Interstate 84 will be closed at night between the Franklin Road and Karcher/Midland interchanges April 22-26 while Idaho Power installs a new transmission line across the interstate. A detour will be in place each night between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.
The detour route will follow Franklin Road (US-20/26) and Midland Road. Please plan ahead and expect delays when traveling in the area. Flaggers will direct traffic.
Idaho Power is installing a new transmission line across I-84. The transmission line will serve the new Skyway Ranch Substation east of the Franklin Road Interchange.
Traffic will be detoured overnight next week for motorists heading eastbound on Interstate 84 from Burley toward Pocatello as crews work to place girders on the newly constructed bridge.
This is part of the Salt Lake Interchange replacement project, underway since May of last year. Construction is scheduled to finish by late 2020.
This temporary traffic pattern is expected to be in effect between the hours of 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. during the nights girders are placed. Work is anticipated to be completed within a week.
“Detouring traffic around this portion of the work zone ensures the safety of motorists who would otherwise be traveling underneath the bridge,” said ITD Project Manager Travis Hitchcock. “Crews will be working to place the girders at night in order to reduce traffic impacts during peak traveling hours.”
Drivers should still anticipate reduced speeds through the work zone and pay close attention to signage which will be in place to safely direct motorists through the area.
Wadsworth Brothers Construction, of Draper, Utah is the prime contractor on this project.
BOISE – Construction is underway on improvements to the Cloverdale Overpass bridge and Cloverdale Road between Franklin Road and Camas Drive.
The Ada County Highway District and the Idaho Transportation Department transportation are joining together to replace and widen the damaged Cloverdale overpass bridge, and widen and improve the sections of road adjoining the bridge. Cloverdale Road will remain closed between Franklin Road and Camas Drive during construction, but one lane of travel in each direction will be open by June 15, 2019. Details of the improvements are listed below.
The public will experience immediate impacts of the construction as crews demolish the damaged bridge over Interstate 84. All eastbound lanes and two westbound lanes of I-84 will be closed overnight Monday (December 3) from 9 PM to 5 AM Tuesday morning. All westbound lanes and two east bound lanes of I-84 will be closed overnight Tuesday (December 4) from 10 PM to 6 AM Wednesday morning. Please refer to the map below for detour routes.
Idaho State Police will increase patrols to promote safe driving behavior in the work zone. The work zone may contain hidden hazards and the public is advised to stay out of the area. Pedestrian and bicycle traffic has been allowed to use the existing Cloverdale Overpass, but following demolition that route will be unavailable.
Throughout construction, access to local businesses and residences on Cloverdale Road will remain open. The work will include, but not be limited to: general construction noise, dust, equipment backup alarms and ground vibration. There may be some night work, but typical work hours on Cloverdale Road will be 7 AM to 8 PM.
This project will construct the following improvements:
Replace and widen the Cloverdale overpass bridge
Widen Cloverdale Road to two travel lanes in each direction with a center turn lane
A raised bike lane, curb, gutter and sidewalk on both sides of the roadway
Install an upgraded pedestrian signal at Emerson Drive and Cloverdale Road
The westbound on-ramps at the Franklin and Northside interchanges will be closed on several occasions next week while the Idaho Transportation Department rebuilds the interstate shoulders near the ramp.
The westbound I-84 on-ramp at Franklin Boulevard will be closed from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 5 and Tuesday, Nov. 6. Motorists can use the ramps at the Garrity and Northside interchanges during the overnight closures.
The westbound on-ramp closure at Northside Boulevard will occur from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 8. Motorists will be directed to use the ramps at the Franklin and Karcher interchanges during the overnight closure.
ITD is widening the I-84 shoulders between the Karcher Road and Franklin Boulevard interchanges this fall in preparation for major construction next spring. Download the project fact sheet for details.
“By moving swiftly to prepare the shoulders this fall, we will be positioned to start the expansion work next year,” said ITD Program Manager Amy Schroeder. “This is the first step of the $330 million investment in I-84 in Canyon County over the next several years. The expansion is a statewide priority to improve safety, mobility and economic opportunity.”
To request email updates about construction activities, text 84CORRIDOR to 22828. For more information on the I-84 expansion project, visit itdprojects.org/i-84-karcher-to-franklin.