10/27/2008
UPDATE: 14 workers sent to area hospitals after highway construction accident
BOISE - A section of the new Robinson Road Bridge being constructed collapsed today sending 14 workers to the hospital, according to the Idaho Transportation Department.
None of the injured workers suffered life threatening injuries. They were taken to Mercy Medical Center in Nampa, St. Alphonsus and St. Lukes in Boise. All of the injured workers are employees of the contractor, Graham Construction of Spokane, Wash.
The span is being constructed at a site just off I-84 northwest of the former Robinson Road Overpass. Concrete was being poured to form the deck of the bridge at the time of the accident.
"We are relieved that no one was seriously hurt by this accident," said Idaho Transportation Department Director Pamela Lowe. "We will begin immediately to work with the contractor to learn what happened."
Work started in late September to replace the I-84 overpasses at Robinson Boulevard and Black Cat Road as part of the I-84 widening project from Meridian to Nampa.
Work on both bridges has been suspended pending an investigation.
Graham Construction and Management of Spokane is the contractor on this $8.5 million project to rebuild the bridges.
The accident is not directly impacting motorists traveling on Interstate 84.