Bypass girder work pending
The view from the new Highway 200 overpass in Ponderay. (Photo courtesy TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION OFFICE)
SANDPOINT — Crane pad construction for the next phase of girder work on the U.S. Highway 95 bypass is scheduled to begin this week.
The girders for the bypass’ mainline bridge over the mouth of Sand Creek and southbound off-ramp are expected to be delivered by the end of the month, said Shane Webley of Parsons RCI, the Sand Creek Byway’s lead contractor. The mainline bridge, known on the job as the 316-meter bridge, is the longest span on the project. The off-ramp is known as the 156-meter bridge.
Adjacent to the Old Power House, base preparation and footing construction for shoring towers to aid the girder placement work is done. Farther south, the installation of pre-cast panels on the east side of the overpass access ramp is ongoing. Storm pipe installation along the Sandpoint off-ramp is slated to begin this week.
At the Bridge Street overpass, also known as the 20-meter bridge, surface finishing on abutments one and two are done, although work overhead jack and overhang installation continues.
Footing installation for the cast-in-place concrete retaining wall next to the Sandpoint Depot is ongoing and rebar installation is set to begin this week. Fine grading, sub-grading and cap rock installation over the lightweight fill near Cedar Street Bridge is done, but coping curb fabrication and installation continues.
Moving north, stage one of the mainline alignment wall has commenced and phase three of the excavation is ongoing.
Edge drain and culvert installation for the Highway 200/U.S. Highway 2 off-ramp near the existing Y interchange is done, while geo-textile and cap rock installation on the northbound U.S. 95 on-ramp is ongoing.
At the new Highway 200 overpass, AKA the 91-meter bridge, the first of three deck pours are scheduled to begin this week. The work will be done with a track-mounted Bid-Well paving machine.
Drivers on U.S. 95 North, meanwhile, will see a change in the status quo. Cap rock installation and finish grading for the northbound connector is done, which clears the way for it to be paved on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Traffic will be shifted onto the newly-paved lanes and a shoo-fly, a localized detour adjacent to the construction, on Thursday.
• Weekly construction updates are held at 11 a.m. on Thursdays at the Transportation Information Office, located at 202 North Second Ave. The updates are also posted online (itd.idaho.gov/projects/d1).