US Highway 91 project moving traffic

SHELLEY – Traffic running between Shelley and 65th South will be diverted next week onto the newly laid highway as the old highway is removed and replaced.

As the highway widening project continues north of Shelley, traffic this next week will be diverted to the newly installed southbound lanes of the new 5-lane highway. 

According to project manager Brian Hanson with HK Contractors of Idaho Falls, the old highway’s surface will be removed, and that area will be built up to match the new highway level.

As the project continues, the intersecting county roads will still be accessible with some temporary closures.  The project will only include the approaches to the highway and not the railroad crossings.   They will remain unchanged, according to Hanson.

Although there have been some delays, the project should be completed by August 13 or a week after that. 

“When we build this other half, it is going to go pretty quick because we will be able to start at one end and go the whole way,†Hanson said.  “We are still shooting for that day [the 13] for completion.â€

Many people have asked why they removed part of the highway surface just south of 65 South. 

Hanson said they removed asphalt from all the turn lanes and this portion of the highway to have enough old mix to add to the hot mix for the two new lanes.  They are required to add a certain percentage of the old mix with the new mix. 

Traffic will continue on the new southbound lanes until the other three lanes are completed.  Then, traffic will be moved onto that section for a short time while another 2-inch layer is added to the southbound lanes.  Once that is done, the new 5-lane highway will be completed.