HAYDEN, Idaho — Orange roadside signs at Ramsey Road and Honeysuckle Avenue now point to Oct. 5 — a reopening date more than five weeks beyond the contractual substantial-completion date identified by the City and one that keeps the intersection closed as students return to school.
The extension means school buses will continue navigating around the construction area. LaRiviere Inc., the project’s contractor, has notified the school district and is responsible for coordinating a bus route that works for both parties, according to the City.
As of Wednesday, the City had not received a proposed route.
The public timeline changed again this week. A sign photographed Monday, Aug. 24, at Reed Road and Honeysuckle Avenue listed Sept. 25 as the end of the closure. By Wednesday, LaRiviere had changed the date to Oct. 5.
Previous closure date: A roadside sign photographed Monday, Aug. 24, listed Sept. 25 as the end of the Ramsey/Honeysuckle closure. By Wednesday, the sign had been changed to Oct. 5. (Hayden Reporter photo)
Oct. 5 “is the anticipated date to re-open the intersection to traffic,” City Engineer Ty Kovatch wrote Wednesday in response to questions from Hayden Reporter.
The City identifies Aug. 29 as the project’s current contractual substantial-completion date.
During Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Public Works Director Alan Soderling described Oct. 5 as LaRiviere’s scheduled substantial-completion date. In its written response Wednesday, the City drew a distinction between reopening the intersection and completing the project, saying “there is still a lot of work to be completed” after traffic resumes.
WATCH: Public Works Director Alan Soderling’s Ramsey-Honeysuckle update
The reason for the broader delay remains unclear.
The City previously approved additional contract time because tree removal necessary for the project was not represented in the contract documents. LaRiviere has requested additional days that are under review, but the City did not identify what caused the remaining five-week delay.
Soderling told council members the City is working through contract-related issues and determining what the delay will mean under its agreement with LaRiviere.
Meanwhile, construction continues. Underground water and sewer-force-main work was expected to be completed this week. Curbs and the roundabout’s center island were expected to begin taking shape next week.
The City did not provide anticipated dates for paving or final completion.
Officials said they had been trying to obtain the best available information from LaRiviere before issuing an updated public notice. The City plans to publish a social media update; the roadside sign now reflects Oct. 5 as the anticipated reopening date.
Resources
Ramsey-Honeysuckle update (2:08)
Public Works project update (21:24)