ADA COUNTY — Two Ada County Highway District projects were recognized among the top construction projects completed in Idaho.
The Ten Mile, Victory to Overland project took first place, and the Roosevelt, Rose Hill to Emerald project took third place, both in the Transportation category. The winning projects were announced during the Idaho Business Review’s awards ceremony.
The projects were recognized based on scope of work, challenges and obstacles, budget and schedule, and overall quality.
“These projects were successful because of the process we have at ACHD. From the members of the community who participated in public involvement and helped to shape these improvements, to the collaborative effort of dozens of people across multiple departments and organizations, it took a lot of teamwork to make these projects come to life,” said Amber Morales, Project Manager for both projects. “I was proud to be the facilitator, a role that allowed me the opportunity to surround myself with incredible passion and expertise from everyone in their field.”
The Ten Mile, Victory to Overland project was completed in fall 2022. It serves as an integral first step in developing the Ten Mile Road corridor from I-84 to Kuna. The project has a phased dual-lane roundabout, meaning it can be expanded to a full dual-lane roundabout in the future. Ten Mile Road was also widened to five lanes with pedestrian and bicycle facilities on both sides of the street.
Construction of the project required coordination with farmers in the area. ACHD was able to open a lane of travel two months ahead of schedule to accommodate farmers’ harvest season. Additionally, ACHD staff members held bi-weekly meetings on-site to share updates with those impacted by the construction.
The Roosevelt, Rose Hill to Emerald project was completed in fall 2022. It is one of the first projects ACHD retrofitted with a multi-use pathway. The new, 10-foot multi-use pathway has a raised curb median separating and protecting pedestrians and bicyclists. Additionally, the project added a new sidewalk with curb and gutter along the west side of Roosevelt Street, filled sidewalk gaps, and added ADA improvements such as curb ramps. The new raised intersection at Roosevelt and Alpine Streets has a rectangular rapid flashing beacon (RRFB) to help increase safety for the local residents and those who attend the nearby elementary school.
Completing the Roosevelt project required coordination with more than 10 construction contractors, including the Union Pacific Railroad. During construction, temporary facilities were put in place to maintain ADA compliance and to provide access for all users. The project team also considered ways to maximize the use of existing right-of-way to minimize impact to adjacent property owners.
The two projects are featured in a special magazine from the Idaho Business Review.
