Fort Hall Interchange construction continues at I-15 Exit 80
A map of the Fort Hall Interchange construction plans detailing the new roadway expansions at Exit 80 on I-15.
By LORI ANN EDMO
Sho-Ban News
FORT HALL — Construction continues on the Exit 80 Fort Hall interchange with Sundt Construction as the main contractor.
Brian Gardner, Sundt Project Manager, said they are half way through installing new box culverts on Ross Fork Creek. The traffic pattern recently switched on Interstate 15 northbound to do that work. In another 30 days, they will switch the work to the southbound side of the freeway.
Currently driving I-15 northbound, the traffic pattern switches just before Exit 80 and to exit to Fort Hall on has to immediately veer to the right after the traffic pattern changes. It can be tricky if one isn’t aware of the change.
He said the bridge will expand to 88 feet wide and will have two lanes on each side with a turn lane and pedestrian sidewalk on the north side. The Shoshone-Bannock Museum or Casino Hotel not be impacted during the construction. “There won’t be any shutdowns,” Gardner said.
A crane sits in between the I-15 traffic lanes.
They are building half of the bridge at a time – the north half will be built first where there currently isn’t anything. Traffic will continue on the existing bridge. Around the end of July the construction workers will bring in the pre caste bridge and it will go up pretty quick Gardner continued and will be put together just like Lego blocks put together.
The existing bridge is currently 32 feet wide. Crews will be starting on the bridge in the next 30 days when people will start seeing walls and pilings for the bridge.
He said the bridge is similar to the Northgate Parkway.
Construction on an underground canal in progress under I-15.
Concerning paving it will go west towards the Tribal Museum and by the casino. East bound it will go as far as the second house on the right of Ross Fork Road.
The contractor is currently working with fabrication companies on the design and will get approval from the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes.
Gardner said at least nine workers are employed through TERO (Tribal Employment Rights Ordinance) office as operators and laborers on the project. Additional workers are employed with Cannon Builders as carpenters and laborers.
Construction workers remove dirt in the I-15 median.
The estimated project cost is $29 million and will be completed later this year. Sundt Construction is also the contractor building the Flying Wye interchange in Pocatello.
