Warmer temperatures will allow a July 8 start of a long-awaited highway resurfacing project between Bellevue and Hailey, the Idaho Transportation Department announced this week.
The construction project, which will be conducted during evening and night hours, will last about 25 working days. It will involve the stretch of state Highway 75 between Spruce Street in Bellevue and Fox Acres Road in Hailey.
The ITD reported that one lane of traffic will be closed during work hours, which will be from 7 p.m. to 6:30 a.m., and a pilot car will guide traffic through the construction zone.
"Contending with traffic on the main artery of the Wood River Valley was something we had concerns with," said ITD Resident Engineer Thomas Brown. "By working at night, the commerce and commuter traffic that keeps the highway busy throughout the day shouldn't be affected as much and in the end we'll have the same result."
The resurfacing project was originally planned to start last fall but was delayed because of an earlier than anticipated arrival of cold weather.
The work will be performed by Valley Paving of Bellevue under a $1.25 million contract.
The ITD asks motorists to be cautious when driving though the construction zone and to be on the lookout for construction crews and equipment. Drivers are further reminded that speeding violations in construction zones can have enhanced penalties.
For more information about construction projects on the state highway system, contact the 511 Traveler Services Web site at 511.idaho.gov or dial 511.
