ITD to reduce speed limit on Highway 93 to reduce vehicle damage

The Idaho Transportation Department announced Friday that speed limits will be reduced on a section of Highway 93 in order to reduce damage done to vehicles from loose gravel. The change will take effect on Tuesday December 13.

ITD says the speed will be reduced from 65 to 45 starting at Arco and going to Trail Creek just north of Mackay.

The change will help reduce damage from flying gravel that did not adhere properly during seal coating earlier this year. Until temperatures rise above 80 degrees the seal coating can not be redone.

This change comes just a week after a similar decision was issued for a similar problem on highway 26 north of Idaho Falls. For more information see the full press release below:

The speed limit on U.S. 93 between Arco and Trail Creek, north of Mackay, will be reduced from 65 to 45 mph starting as early as Tuesday (Dec. 13). The reduced speed limit will remain in effect temporarily to help minimize vehicle damage caused by flying rock chips. ITD will also post signs to notify drivers of loose gravel and of the need to slow down, not pass other vehicles, and increase their following distance.

A similar speed-limit reduction is already in place on U.S. 26 between Idaho Falls and Ririe to combat loose rock chips. ITD is working with Idaho State Police to enforce the 45-mph speed limit now in place on U.S. 26. Crews have placed signs along the roadway to notify motorists of loose gravel and of the need to slow down and increase their following distance.

Transportation department officials expect the lowered speed limits on U.S. 26 and U.S. 93 to remain in place for as long as it helps make the road safer for travelers. The speed-limit reduction could last a few days or a few months.

This summer, the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) contracted with Geneva Rock Products Inc., of Murray, Utah, to do routine seal coating (http://itd.idaho.gov/d6/?target=d-6-news) along the stretch of U.S. 93. ITD contracted with HK Contractors Inc., of Idaho Falls, to seal coat the U.S. 26 stretch this summer.

ITD is doing all it can to mitigate the problem of loose gravel both routes until the contractors can repair or replace the seal coats, if needed. The agency is committed to do the right thing for the traveling public.

Unfortunately, contractors can’t repair or replace the seal coats until next summer, if needed, when temperatures are sufficiently warm for successful seal-coat repairs/replacements. Seal coats normally are performed between June 15 and Aug. 31. The road-surface temperature must be 80 degrees and rising to allow heat to help asphalt and rock bond to the pavement.

ITD’s focus now is minimizing vehicle damage first by sweeping the road or otherwise removing or holding down loose gravel. Officials are working with the contractors, who warrantied their work, to continue sweeping the road and to pay damage claims.

If the rock chips of a seal coat come loose, the contractor sweeps them off. Sweeping the roadway a time or two usually solves the problem. If more chips come loose, crews sweep the road again. Contractors have swept the roadway on U.S. 26 eight times and on U.S. 93 four times and will continue doing so as long as needed. ITD also will try other reasonable corrective actions.

To file a claim for damage received on U.S. 26 east of Idaho Falls, please file an incident report with contractor HK Contractors Inc. at http://hkcontractors.com/contact-us/incident-report/.

To file a claim for damage received on U.S. 93 between Arco and Trail Creek, please telephone contractor Geneva Rock Products Inc., of Murray, Utah, at 801-765-7885, or visit the company’s website at http://genevarock.com/contact and submit your information through the feedback tool. Drivers generally must file claims within 30 days of the damage.