Months earlier than originally expected, all lanes are open on Interstate 84 between the Franklin and Garrity interchanges in Nampa as work wraps up on a project that widened two miles of freeway.
Work started in July 2010, and is reaching completion nearly three months ahead of schedule, and the speed limit has been restored to 65 mph, the Idaho Transportation Department announced Friday.
Minor construction activity continues as crews complete roadside sign installation, clean-up tasks and utility work along the shoulder. Short-term lane reductions may be required, and if so, the speed limit will temporarily revert to 55 mph as a safety precaution for crews who work just feet from traffic. This spring, crews will return to paint final lane markings on I-84 and reconfigure the traffic signal and lane markings at the westbound Franklin off-ramp.
The project included:
• Widening two miles of I-84 from two to three lanes in each direction
• Adding an auxiliary lane that allows eastbound vehicles to enter I-84 at the Franklin Boulevard on-ramp and exit at Garrity without having to merge with interstate traffic
• Constructing two new bridges -- one over the Phyllis Canal and the other over the railroad tracks
• Building longer on- and off-ramps with more gradual alignments to make merging safer
The widening project also improves the road surface, adds capacity and will safely accommodate projected traffic volumes through 2032, when the area is expected to see 40 percent more traffic, ITD reports.
I-84 provides a vital link between Canyon County and Ada County for both commuters and freight, and carries the highest volume of traffic in the region, according to ITD. Pressure on the corridor from west of Caldwell to east of Meridian increased in the past decade because of rapid growth west of Boise.
The $22.2 million widening project is one of several interstate improvement projects in an 18-mile stretch of I-84 funded by the GARVEE Transportation Program. The program uses proceeds from Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicle bonds to accelerate highway improvements throughout Idaho.
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