Boise road work: Work begins in January to replace Broadway bridge

Early next year, the Idaho Transportation Department will begin construction to remove and replace the 50-year-old Broadway Avenue bridge over the Boise River. Crews will also widen and repave Broadway between University Drive and Myrtle Street.

During construction, Broadway will be fully closed between Cesar Chavez Lane and Myrtle from January until fall 2016.

Motorists will be detoured around the work zone via the West ParkCenter bridge. Pedestrians and bicyclists will be detoured to cross the river at the West ParkCenter bridge, as well as Friendship Bridge near Julia Davis Park.

The new $20.2 million six-lane bridge will feature bike lanes, 10-foot-wide sidewalks, three 18-foot-wide overlooks on each side of the bridge and stairs and ramps to the Greenbelt.

On average, 24,500 cars travel across the Broadway bridge daily, along with many pedestrians and bicyclists.

ITD will host a public open house on the project’s design and construction on Wednesday, Dec. 2, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Washington Group Plaza, Central Plaza Training Room, 720 Park Blvd.

For ITD’s bridge construction updates, sign up or text BroadwayBridge to 22828.

In conjunction with the construction project, ITD is spending $300,000 to repair and stabilize the historic Christ Chapel adjacent to the bridge so it won’t be harmed during construction, particularly when the existing bridge is demolished and more than 80 new support structures are pounded 60 feet into the riverbed.

This story was originally published November 19, 2015 at 12:13 PM with the headline "Boise road work: Work begins in January to replace Broadway bridge."