Those who will be driving in the area of Fort Street and St. Luke’s Hospital in downtown Boise this weekend are reminded to avoid the new roundabout at Reserve Street, as the road will be closed for two days.
Starting at 6 a.m. on Saturday, May 19, Avenue B and Fort Street, from Warm Springs to Robbins Road, will be closed. Both are scheduled reopen in time for the Monday morning commute, officials said.
“Road construction crews will spend Saturday paving through and around the Reserve roundabout. They will lay the top layer of asphalt. Sunday the plan is to stripe the lanes and apply all other paint markings, depending on the weather,” said St. Luke’s hospital spokeswoman Anita Kissee. “This is one of the last big pushes for road improvements happening near St. Luke's Boise Medical Center. Crews expect to wrap up this summer, several months ahead of schedule.”
To impact neighbors and commuters the least, the closure was planned for two days over a weekend, she pointed out. Final paint touch-ups may be required next week -- but they will be done by shifting traffic, so that no additional full road closures are needed during that time.
Due to safety concerns with asphalt rollers, West Jefferson Street directly behind the hospital will remain closed. Emergency traffic will not be impacted, as ambulances can continue up Avenue B and turn on Jefferson to reach the emergency department. Patients needing emergency care can also use Avenue B to Bannock. All others should enter the parking lot off Idaho Street, which is now back open to two lanes.
If the weather cooperates, Central Paving expects to reopen Jefferson and southbound Fort, as 85 percent of asphalt work in the area will be complete, Kissee pointed out.
West State Street will temporarily remain westbound only, along with a road closure on 1st Street between Jefferson and State.
The road work is being done in partnership between St. Luke's, the City of Boise and the Ada County Highway District. It's part of a development project and master plan that will modernize the hospital, while also providing better transportation flow between Boise's east side and downtown.
