Silver Valley side-steps road construction season
The retaining wall and guardrail in Wallace that are set to be worked on by Idaho Transportation Department crews in July.
Photo by CHANSE WATSON
Wallace, Blue Creek Bay projects could cause delays
It appears as though that the commutes of Silver Valley residents will be largely unhindered this summer season.
Megan Sausser, Idaho Transportation Department’s Public Information Officer, tells the News-Press that aside from one isolated project, her agency has no other planned construction work in Shoshone County this year.
“As far as construction in the Valley goes this year, you get a hall pass,” she said.
While traffic on Interstate 90 should be unimpeded by orange traffic cones locally this summer (barring any emergency repairs/work), motorists aren’t getting out completely unscathed.
ITD work crews have plans to begin an estimated five-month-long project in Wallace on July 13 that would see to repairing the retaining wall and guardrail between the South Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River and Front Street.
The aged retaining wall will receive repairs by hand when water levels drop to appropriate levels. Its purpose has been to guide the South Fork past Wallace while also protecting the town from washouts during flooding seasons.
Crews will also be replacing the old guardrail that sits atop, and runs the length of, the retaining wall.
This old rail has historically been there to keep vehicles and pedestrians from having a straight shot to the river, but its condition has become so poor that temporary concrete barriers have been placed next to it to temporarily handle that responsibility. The guardrail, along the sidewalk next to the river, will be replaced along Front Road from the Conoco gas station to the Fifth Street intersection.
After construction, the sidewalk will be a half-mile long and the concrete barriers will be removed.
This project as a whole will not make changes to the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes that runs underneath the interstate.
It is believed that the Wallace Gateway Project will also be kicking-off at the same time as this ITD work.
Wallace’s Gateway Project consists of the installation of ADA compliant curb ramps, installation of sidewalk, removal of signage and pavement markings, and the installation of rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs).
A crossing will be constructed south of the Wallace Chamber of Commerce to provide access from the Veterans Park to the Visitor’s Center and another crossing will be constructed across Fifth Street south of River Street.
Sausser states that ITD is currently working with the city to determine if a detour route or the use of flaggers would be more desirable.
“It won’t affect the interstate,” Sausser said of the construction, “but it will significantly affect the business route in Wallace.”
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As for construction just outside Shoshone County that may delay local drivers, ITD announced Thursday that a third project is scheduled to start on I-90 east of Coeur d’Alene on Monday, June 22.
“Drivers should expect delays on their way to access the river or head south on the Lake Coeur d’Alene Scenic Byway,” Sausser said. “These projects will collectively repair several bridges and restore the interstate’s surface, improving safety and the driver experience.”
Work to resurface the interstate from Blue Creek Bay to the bottom of the Fourth of July Pass will extend the existing work zone at the bridges over Blue Creek Bay. If you include the replacement of the bridge over Pennsylvania Avenue on the edge of town, drivers can encounter miles of orange barrels as they head east.
“Once traffic is crossed over for the bridge repairs at Blue Creek Bay, drivers will stay on that side of the interstate until the end of the paving project at the bottom of the pass,” ITD Project Manager Kyle Schrader said.
Paving near Blue Creek Bay is expected to last for several weeks, and ramps at the Idaho Highway 97 junction will be closed as they are resurfaced. Once construction begins, the eastbound off-ramp will be closed for up to three days, and the eastbound on-ramp will be closed for up to nine days.
“The closest places to turn around will be the Mullan Trail interchange to the west and the interchange at the top of the pass to the east,” Schrader said. “For the smoothest travel plans this summer, drivers should check for construction delays or detours on the 511 app before heading out.”
Construction on the westbound portion of the project will not begin until work on the Blue Creek Bay bridges switches from the eastbound bridge to the westbound bridge, which is expected in mid-August.
“We will then go through this process again, just in the opposite direction,” Schrader said.
Drivers and download the 511 app by visiting 511.idaho.gov.
For more information on the Wallace Gateway Project, visit www.shoshonenewspress.com/news/2020/may/01/wallace-approves-project-bid-8/