9/11/2007
Rainbow Bridge improvements conclude this week
BOISE - Improvements to the historic Idaho 55 Rainbow Bridge north of Smiths Ferry are concluding this week, the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) announced.
Both lanes of the bridge opened as of Tuesday (Sept. 11), and width restrictions have been lifted.
In 2006, work was done on the arch piers, floor beams, deck joints and columns. Construction crews replaced the bridge's rails this spring and summer.
The project's main goals were to preserve the historical quality of the bridge and ensure traffic safety during construction. Exposure to the elements over the years caused the bridge to deteriorate. The structure's rails were severely pockmarked and the deck was uneven.
Rainbow Bridge is the largest single-span concrete arch structure in Idaho. Built in 1933, it remains today as a major achievement reflecting leading-edge bridge engineering at the time, and exemplifies a conscious effort to meld a modern structure with a picturesque natural setting. Listed on the national historic register, the bridge's enduring popularity among residents and travelers alike is a tribute to its design. The open-spandrel concrete arches reach 410 feet across the North Fork of the Payette.
Designed by Charles A. Kyle, the first chief bridge engineer for the Idaho Department of Highways, Rainbow Bridge began construction in July 1933 and was completed in December of the same year. C.C. Dinsmore & Co. of Ogden, Utah, was the construction firm.
Mowat Construction Co. was the contractor on the $2.9 million renovation project.
For current driving conditions on Idaho highways, call 5-1-1 or visit 511.idaho.gov.
Both lanes of the bridge opened as of Tuesday (Sept. 11), and width restrictions have been lifted.
In 2006, work was done on the arch piers, floor beams, deck joints and columns. Construction crews replaced the bridge's rails this spring and summer.
The project's main goals were to preserve the historical quality of the bridge and ensure traffic safety during construction. Exposure to the elements over the years caused the bridge to deteriorate. The structure's rails were severely pockmarked and the deck was uneven.
Rainbow Bridge is the largest single-span concrete arch structure in Idaho. Built in 1933, it remains today as a major achievement reflecting leading-edge bridge engineering at the time, and exemplifies a conscious effort to meld a modern structure with a picturesque natural setting. Listed on the national historic register, the bridge's enduring popularity among residents and travelers alike is a tribute to its design. The open-spandrel concrete arches reach 410 feet across the North Fork of the Payette.
Designed by Charles A. Kyle, the first chief bridge engineer for the Idaho Department of Highways, Rainbow Bridge began construction in July 1933 and was completed in December of the same year. C.C. Dinsmore & Co. of Ogden, Utah, was the construction firm.
Mowat Construction Co. was the contractor on the $2.9 million renovation project.
For current driving conditions on Idaho highways, call 5-1-1 or visit 511.idaho.gov.