Bogus Basin Emergency Repair Project. Photo: Courtesy ACHD
As winter is coming into view, road construction on Bogus Basin Road is set to continue into early December, according to officials with the Ada County Highway District, potentially coinciding with the start of ski season.
Back in July of this year, we told you about ACHD’s Board of Commissioners passing an emergency declaration following a significant washout along Bogus Basin Road near mile marker 10, caused by a severe summer storm.
The storms heavy rainfall caused significant damage to the mountain’s main access road, including a washout and pavement failures. Officials with ACHD said that the failure also compromised drainage, preventing stormwater from reaching an existing inlet and increasing the risk of additional slope failure.
The emergency declaration allowed ACHD to streamline its procurement processes, and the district began geotechnical work and design on an expedited timeline. Traffic was reduced to one lane at mile marker 10 for a 700 ft stretch, and a temporary signal was installed near mile marker 10 on Bogus Basin Road.
Repairs began in August, and now, two months later, those repairs are still underway.
Matt DeGen, manager and safety engineer for ACHD, tells BoiseDev that “to date, construction is going smoothly and progressing well.”
DeGen said crews are working on constructing two retaining walls, which are both around 100ft in length. He said that the lower wall, at the location of the severe erosion, is approximately 12 feet high at its tallest point (wall height varies), and the upper wall is shorter, with the tallest portion being 4 feet tall.
“The contractor should have all the pile holes drilled by the end of this week, and H-piles placed in concrete by November 6th,” Degen said. “From where we are today, it’s looking like an early December completion on the project.”
As construction continues, “Motorists are encouraged to slow down, follow all traffic control devices, and allow extra travel time when driving on Bogus Basin Road,” ACHD said in a press release.
To learn more about the Bogus Basin Emergency Repair Project, click here.
