On Sunday night (July 11), the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) will begin phase two of the rehabilitation project on Idaho Highway 75 (Main Street) in Hailey between Fox Acres Road and Cobblestone Lane.
The first phase began in May with updates to pedestrian ramps and crossings to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. The second phase of the project will rehabilitate the roadway and provide for a smoother driving surface through downtown Hailey.
“Work on the roadway is more dependent on warm weather than the pedestrian ramp updates,” ITD Project Manager Steve Hunter said. “Now that we are fully into summer, and temperatures are not as variable as in the spring, we can begin construction on the roadway.”
Through the remainder of summer, ITD will rehabilitate the highway by milling the old road surface and replacing it with new pavement. Improvements will also include new striping and pedestrian crossings.
Work will occur at night between the hours of 6:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. to reduce impacts to the traveling public and provide an opportunity for crews to work with minimal interruptions.
During working hours, traffic will be reduced to a single lane in each direction. During the day, two lanes will be open both northbound and southbound.
“Crews will use dust abatement methods to manage dust and dirt, but drivers should anticipate driving on a temporary gravel surface during construction activities,” explained Hunter.
In addition to milling and paving, vibratory rolling will also occur to compact the roadway. Vibration may be felt on nearby properties.
“We understand that the City of Hailey is a renowned tourist destination and we will be working closely with our crews to reduce impacts to the community as much as possible,” Hunter said.
Knife River is the primary contractor on this $3.4 million project
Overnight work is expected to occur this Thursday (July 1) on Idaho Highway 75 between Fox Acres Road and Airport Way in Hailey. During the hours of 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. crews will remove approximately 1,000 feet of asphalt in the center lane and replace it with new material.
This is part of pre-construction testing related to the Hailey Main Street Rehabilitation Project.
“While construction on the roadway is not scheduled to begin until July 12, we must test a portion of the roadway in advance of that work,” ITD Engineering Manager Seth Helms stated. “Testing will include examination of roadway materials as well as the procedures we will use when construction begins to help lessen the impact of operations from July 12 onward.”
Traffic will be reduced to a single lane in each direction while work is underway.
During the compaction stage, ground vibration may be felt in the work zone and immediate surrounding area. Unsecured items may shift during this process.
Motorists are advised to slow down and watch for crew members and heavy equipment while work is underway.
Next week, the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) will begin a two-phase project on Idaho Highway 75 (Main Street) in Hailey between Fox Acres Road and Cobblestone Lane.
The first phase will begin Monday, May 3. Crews will update pedestrian ramps and crossings to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. The second phase of the project, which is expected to begin in July, will rehabilitate the roadway.
“At this point in time, the weather is still too variable for us to work on the roadway,” ITD Project Manager Steve Hunter said. “Because of this, we will first address the ADA ramps and then move onto roadway construction later in the summer.”
Only one ramp per intersection will be constructed at a time to lessen impacts to pedestrians. No work is scheduled to occur on the pedestrian ramps or roadway during the July 4 holiday.
“We understand that the City of Hailey is a renowned tourist destination and we will be working closely with our crews to reduce impacts to the community as much as possible,” Hunter said.
ITD will hold a public meeting ahead of the roadway rehabilitation to share with business owners and residents what can be expected during construction, which will last through the summer.
Knife River is the primary contractor on this $3.4 million project.
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.
The Idaho Transportation Department will begin repairs this week on Idaho Highway 75 in Blaine County to address areas damaged during the winter months. Work will occur on various stretches of roadway between milepost 118 and 132 on both north and southbound lanes.
Weather permitting, crews are anticipated to complete work by the end of July.
“We are working to fix areas of the highway which saw substantial damage over the lengthy winter months,” said ITD area foreman Brad Lynch. “The work we are doing will smooth out the roadway and improve the driving experience for motorists throughout the Wood River Valley.”
Some areas will require a detour while work is being performed. Access to Serenade Lane from ID-75 will be closed for approximately two days during this timeframe.
Motorists are advised to exercise caution, watch for flaggers and follow signs which will be in place to safely direct drivers through the area.
Repairs are expected to take place Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Work will not be performed over the Fourth of July weekend.
The Idaho Transportation Department will continue repairs next week on Idaho Highway 75 in Blaine County. Work will occur on two stretches of roadway between River Street and Weyyakin Drive in Ketchum. Additional work will also take place near Hailey.
Weather permitting, crews are anticipated to complete work within two weeks.
“Our goal is to complete repairs before temperatures drop below 30 degrees,” said ITD area foreman Brad Lynch. “The type of work completed in the coming days will be dependent on how much moisture is in the air.
Some areas will require a detour while work is being performed. Traffic control crews may also be utilized on various stretches of roadway. Motorists are advised to exercise caution and follow signs which will be in place to safely direct drivers through the area.
Repairs are expected to take place between 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
