TEN MILE RD INTERCHANGE PROJECT
PROVIDING NEW FREEWAY ACCESS
The purpose of this project is to build a new interchange by constructing a new overpass and access ramps to I-84. This new interchange "Future Exit 42" will provide congestion relief to the Meridian interchange approximately 2 miles to the east. The existing bridge was damaged in May of 2006 by a truck carrying an overheight load. The bridge was severely damaged causing one lane of the bridge to be closed. The bridge will need to be torn down to build the new interchange. The new interchange will also allow the planned future widening of interstate 84 from Meridian to the Garrity interchange in Nampa.
PROJECT STATS
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Basic Information:
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Roadgeek Vision for this project:
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PROJECT BACKGROUND
Currently there are no exits between Exit 44 in Meridian and Exit 38 in Nampa. adding a new access to the freeway has been a priority for planners since the explosion of growth in the city of Meridian. Currently the Meridian interchange is choked with traffic trying to navigate several tightly spaced intersections and a loop ramp to get to downtown Boise. Adding a new interchange at Ten Mile will allow commuters an alternative route to avoid traffic.
The new interchange will also provide a new avenue for growth in the coming years. Meridian planners have generated a land use plan for the area north of the freeway and around the interchange. New roadways and smart growth design criteria are being implemented into the plan. which will include roundabouts, new arterial roadways and a lifestyle center.
WHAT WILL IT DO TO HELP
Once completed the new interchange will allow traffic to flow more smoothly around the existing Meridian and Eagle interchanges. thus decreasing the amount of traffic at those intersections. This project will also increase safety for motorists with upgraded ramps and interchange configurations. This project also relies on the multi-million dollar widening of I-84 between Meridian and Nampa, without which the freeway would not be able to handle the increased traffic from the new interchange. Both the interchange and the widening of the interstate should be completed in conjuction with one another.
ROADGEEK VISION FOR TEN MILE
The new interchange paves the way for some key improvements. One of those is the widening of Interstate 84 whith is currently congested and the scene of numerous traffic incidents. it also provides better access to the freeway now that there is much less rural space between Nampa and Meridian. Eventually we can expect to see more development and the blending together of the two cities and growth continues. This project is identified as one of key importance for addressing continued growth for the region.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The new intersection should be constructed to the east of the current overpass as an offset ParClo configuration. The ParClo (or Partial Cloverleaf) configuration is the best for this interchange as it meets traffic needs efficiently with a lower cost than other designs being considered.
The interchange design will be less costly because there are less impacts on Right of way, and less existing structures will be impacted as well. Additionally it will be less expensive to widen Ten Mile road through its existing ROW due to space limitations and property impact.
The design also will improve operations above other designs by providing better traffic flow and minimizing weaving issues and allow for future expansion and traffic growth. The interchange will allow traffic to exit the freeway from one ramp to reach either north or southbound Ten Mile Road thus meeting driver expectations and minimizing confusuion, Another benefit is that exiting traffic will terminate at a signalized intersection eliminating possible weaving conflicts on Ten Mile Road, especially since there is planned development immediately near the interchange. Merging operations on the freeway on-ramps will also be improved. Traffic access to the freeway will be via separate ramps for each direction and all access to the freeway will be on the right of the mainline. As a result left turn movements and traffic storage considerations are eliminated for traffic entering the freeway.
Signal operations will also be improved as well. Through and exiting traffic will experience reduced interuptions through the interchange, and will benefit from two-phased signal operations and reduced wait times.
Here is a map of what the interchange would look like with the ParClo configuration.
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Updated 10/10/2007