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Big Wood River Bridge initial construction begins this month

Construction activities for the Idaho 75 Big Wood River Bridge Replacement Project are planned to begin later this month. Preliminary activities include removing trees in the construction area to avoid possible conflicts with migratory bird nesting and initial work to adjust utilities. The overall project will widen the bridge to four lanes, with wider shoulders and a safety median for drivers.

Needed tree removal between the north entrance to Hospital Drive and Elkhorn Drive will begin by mid-November and finish by the end of December. Drivers can expect minor impacts to traffic, including daily lane closures between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Construction of the new bridge and roadway is expected to begin early in 2016 and finish in 2017. The bridge-replacement project is currently being advertised to potential contractors and is scheduled for bid opening Nov. 24.

The project will blend the new bridge lane configuration into the existing four-lane sections north and south of the bridge. In addition to widening the bridge, the design includes improved wildlife passage under the bridge. The signal and left-turn lane at Elkhorn Road will remain unchanged.

This is the second project to be developed as outlined in the Timmerman-to-Ketchum Final Environmental Impact Statement (Idaho 75 FEIS) completed in August 2008. The design elements of the Big Wood River Bridge project are based on the Idaho 75 FEIS environmental document.