DATE: Friday, May 19, 2023
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES:
Blasting hours have been extended to allow for additional blasting operations between 6:30 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. This extension allows crews to prepare for daily blasting operations during off-peak hours when traffic volumes are low.
Crews will be offsite starting Friday, May 26, at noon in observance of Memorial Day. Crews will return on Monday, May 29, at 7:00 p.m.
TRAFFIC IMPACT AND DURATION:
Starting Sunday, May 21, at 7:00 p.m. and continue through Friday, May 26, at 6:00 a.m. during nighttime hours (7:00 p.m. – 6:00 a.m.), crews will continue installing waterline working their way north along U.S. Route 2/7 (U.S. 2/7) towards Mountain View Drive. Crews will also prepare for daily blasting operations beginning at 6:30 a.m. At least one travel lane will remain open in each direction during nighttime hours. Motorists are strongly encouraged to use caution while driving through the work zone and pay close attention to signage as traffic patterns will change.
Crews will continue removing material including roadway surface and ledge to facilitate the installation of the waterline and stormwater utilities. This will continue throughout next week starting Monday, May 22, through Friday, May 26, at noon during daytime hours (6:30 a.m. – 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.) along U.S. 2/7 within the project area. This work will require blasting activities. Throughout the week, crews will continue to work in the center lanes in the vicinity of the Interstate 89 (I-89) bridges. Two travel lanes will remain open in each direction during daytime hours. Traffic patterns will change. This work will be completed under lane closures on U.S. 2/7 between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
In addition, traffic will be temporarily impacted on U.S. 2/7 and I-89 as part of the blasting activities more specific information is provided below. These impacts will be restricted to the hours of 6:00 a.m. – 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Blasting impacts to U.S. Route 2/7
Four minutes prior to each blasting event, Uniformed Traffic Officers (UTOs) and barricades will be placed at either end of the blasting zone on U.S. 2/7 and the I-89 offramps to prevent vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists from entering the blasting zone. The blasting zone is anticipated to be between South Park Drive and Mountain View Drive, however, this area will be refined based on the specific blasting location. Flaggers will be present at adjacent businesses and sideroads to prevent pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles from entering the area. Once the area is secured, the blasting event will take place. After each blasting event, a blasting specialist will clear the area before allowing users to reenter the blasting zone. The I-89 interstate offramps will be cleared before U.S. 2/7 traffic is released. Wait times are not anticipated to exceed 10 minutes.
Blasting impacts to Interstate 89
Four minutes prior to each blasting event, UTOs and SDI construction vehicles will initiate a rolling roadblock between Exit 14 and 17 along I-89 northbound and southbound. Rolling roadblocks slow traffic down to create a gap in traffic to allow the blasting event to take place safely. A pilot vehicle will follow the last vehicle impacted by the rolling roadblock to inform the team once the area in the blasting zone is secured. The rolling roadblock will continue until the hard stop location is reached. To learn more about rolling roadblocks, watch this video created by the Kansas Turnpike.
All users should expect delays and plan ahead.
