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Innovations in Lardo Bridge reconstruction featured by FHWA social media

The innovations involved in the reconstruction of the 83-year-old Lardo Bridge on Idaho 55 on the southwest shore of Payette Lake in McCall have been recognized by the federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in their social media state-by-state campaign.

Ralph L. Wadsworth and Lochner used ITD's conceptual design to complete the bridge design and construct a new bridge that will accommodate one lane of traffic in each direction along with bicycle and pedestrian facilities on each side of the bridge.

The project features the first lateral slide of a new bridge by ITD, and is only the department's second design-build project, an innovative contracting technique that condenses the overall project timetable. The new bridge is being constructed north of the existing structure. By using the accelerated construction technique, the new bridge will eventually be slid into place after the old bridge is demolished. This method reduces a full closure of the bridge by months. The closure is likely to begin in mid-October.

"FHWA is doing a social-media push on Facebook and Twitter every Tuesday highlighting projects built using state-based innovations we support under our Every Day Counts initiative," said Neil Gafney, public affairs specialist with the organization in Washington, D.C. Gafney said the state-by-state updates began in July, and have been proceeding alphabetically since.

On Tuesday (Oct. 7), the Lardo bridge replacement was featured as "a shining example of bridge construction innovation," according to FHWA.

Just last week, the final three 157-foot girders for the new bridge were set on the temporary structure. Three others, each weighing 197,000 lbs., were set the week prior.

The construction/design contract is for $3.64 million.