Road construction projects listed

Excavating work on the Mountain Home Railroad Underpass is underway.

The Idaho Transportation Department said crews have been busy shoring up the sides of the new underpass in preparation for the excavation. The excavation is expected to be complete in June and then construction on the bridge will begin.

The bridge will be built one half at a time. Once the first half is complete, the railroad tracks will be placed and the trains will begin running on them. Train traffic will not be interrupted during the construction process.

Since construction began last summer, drainage ponds have been put in place, pipe work has been done and the metal decking has been removed from the old structure.

The underpass project is expected to take two and a half years to complete and will cost approximately $18 million. The contractor is Morgen & Oswood of Great Falls, Mont.

In addition to underpass work, drivers will find a number of other projects this summer that may affect their travel.

A 10-mile paving project and guardrail replacement on Interstate 84 near Micron are expected to begin in late May or early June, said Jennifer Oxley, public affairs specialist with the Idaho Transportation Department.

Both sides of the interstate between the Isaac's Canyon interchange at Eisenman Road to one mile west of the Mayfield Road interchange, near the Stage Stop, will be reconstructed using a Cement Recycled Asphalt Base Stabilization (CRABS) process. In this process, the old road surface is pulverized and a strengthening agent is added to the old asphalt. The mixture is then compacted and used as the base for a new layer of asphalt. The section is then overlaid with a new layer of pavement.

The project is expected to be complete in December. Interstate traffic will be reduced from two lanes in each direction to one lane in each direction.

The westbound off-ramp at S. Eisenman Road will be closed and traffic will be detoured while the westbound lanes are repaved. The ramp will reopen when the westbound lanes are completed.

The eastbound on-ramp at S. Eisenman Road will be closed and traffic detoured while the eastbound lanes are repaved. The ramp will reopen when the eastbound lanes are completed.

The two ramps will not be closed at the same time. Signs will warn motorists of the detours and lane reductions.

The section of the interstate was last repaved in 1992. The surface is cracked, rutted and has several potholes. The repair will improve the smoothness and safety of the road and extend its life. Outdated guardrail will be replaced.

Work is expected to begin in May on U.S. 20, from the junction of I-84 to the Mountain Home city limits. During construction there will be one lane restriction except during the commuting hours (6:30-8 a.m. and 4:30-6 p.m., Monday through Friday). The total length of the project is almost one mile, and has an estimated completion date in June. The cost of the project is estimated at $308,000.

The Glenns Ferry Business Loop will be repaved with work expected to begin in June. The $512,000 project will include approximately 60 curb cuts to meet ADA standards. The total length of the project is 1.4 miles and work is expected to be completed in August. Traffic will be reduced to one lane with traffic controls, with the exception of Aug. 9-11 when the Three Island Crossing event is scheduled.

The Mountain Home Business Loop from E. 8th North Street to McMurtrey Road will undergo a pavement rehabilitation project between the months of July and August. During construction there will be one lane restriction except during the commuting hours, 6:30-8 a.m. and 4:30-6 p.m., Monday through Friday. The 1.6 mile project has an estimated cost of $560,000.

A seal coat will be applied on I-84 from the Jackrabbit overpass to the Sebree interchange between June 15 and September 1. Traffic will be channeled using barrels on both the east- and westbound lanes. One lane will be open at all times. Nighttime work will not take place. The speed limit will be reduced to 35 m.p.h. in the work zone. The exit and entrance ramps at Exit 90 will remain open during construction.