Asphalt test failures put brakes to Fourth of July repaving project

Construction along the Fourth of July Pass section of Interstate 90 has stalled in recent weeks, prompting many commuters to question whether the roadwork remains on schedule.  

In March, the Idaho Department of Transportation (IDT) announced a two-year, eight-mile resurfacing project from Wolf Lodge to the east side of the pass. Multi-year projects are typically run on a seasonal basis, with crews working continuously until the weather no longer permits it.  

In recent weeks, people noticed sections of asphalt being laid and then removed, followed by pauses in the work. Heather McDaniel, a public information officer with ITD, explained the start-stop nature of the project and what’s causing it.  

According to McDaniel, ITD has a quality control process that requires the contractor to lay a test strip of asphalt for testing before they complete the entire project. These tests ensure the pavement will last for its expected lifespan, while also being up to the challenge of handling the I-90's heavy traffic.  

“On this project, unfortunately, several of those test strips didn’t meet our standards. As a result, they had to be removed, and work paused while the contractor and the asphalt plant worked to adjust the mix,” McDaniel explained. “This has definitely caused some noticeable downtime, but it’s necessary to get the right product in place before moving forward. We’re hopeful that a successful mix will be ready soon so we can resume paving.” 

This situation presents a good news/bad news situation for drivers. While it may be inconvenient and frustrating to see the work moving slowly, McDaniel said that ITD does not pay for asphalt that doesn’t meet their testing standards; that responsibility falls on the contractor.  

“We do pay for our own inspectors to test materials on-site as part of our quality assurance process,” McDaniel said. “This situation is a good example of why those inspections are so important; they protect taxpayers from paying for materials that don’t meet our expectations and would likely fail prematurely.” 

McDaniel doesn’t anticipate that these delays will delay the overall project timeline, calling the current trial-and-error testing “Not uncommon and built into our long-term planning.”  

However, she did say this project has had a higher number of test failures, which has resulted in some additional challenges.     

“Once we get a passing mix, we’re confident we can move quickly and work efficiently to stay on schedule,” McDaniel said. “If necessary, there may be some daytime weekend work added later in the season to help make up for lost time.”  

For more information, visit www.itd.idaho.gov.