AASHTO Journal - ITD Conducts Cost-Saving Pavement Rescue Project

When a stretch of State Highway 3 or SH-3 near Clarkia, ID, started showing signs it might not last another winter, work crews from District 1 and District 2 of the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) teamed up to conduct a quick “pavement rescue” operation; one that delivered cost savings as well.

[Above photo by ITD]

Instead of waiting for contractor availability – and paying the steep price that can come along with it – ITD crews jumped in to pave the section in late July.

The move saved thousands of dollars, kept the work on schedule, and gave employees from both districts a chance to step up and deliver a high-quality fix before the weather turned frigid.

ITD said District 2 supplied 11 trucks and 11 people to haul asphalt from a plant in Lewiston while District 1 fielded eight trucks and 14 people to haul material from Coeur d’Alene and run the paving operation on site.

Together, crews made dozens of trips a day – at times logging up to three round trips per driver. The remote location also gave new employees in training the chance to rack up valuable commercial driver’s license or CDL hours while contributing directly to the project’s success.

The paving crew also got to put their skills to work on a near-new, high-performance paver recently acquired from Ada County. With top-notch operators and a machine built to deliver contractor-level results, the team produced a surface that’s smooth, durable, and ready to carry traffic safely through winter.

Though traffic is light on SH-3 – a rural stretch of roadway – ITD stressed that a significant number of logging trucks operate on it, hauling wood to and from the local mill.

Thus, this pavement rescue project to keep SH-3 safe wasn’t just about moving people; it’s also about keeping commerce moving in a region of Idaho where logging and trucking are at the heart of the local economy.

Beyond the road itself, the project highlighted the value of collaboration across districts and how much can be accomplished when employees bring their skills, equipment, and determination together, explained ITD District 1 Engineer Damon Allen in a statement.

“This was a big lift, on a short timeline, but exactly the kind of situation where our internal forces shine,” he said. “These guys and gals know the road, they know the challenges, and they know how to work together to get it done. This kind of collaboration made the project possible and is exactly what makes ITD strong.”