4/21/2010
Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov
Earthmoving work to resume Monday (April 26) on Dover Bridge project
COEUR D'ALENE - Dover Bridge construction activities resume Monday (April 26), the Idaho Transportation Department announced. Work will include extensive earthmoving activity at the east end of the project area.
The bike/pedestrian trail from Chuck's Slough
west to the current bridge at Dover will close Monday and remain closed until the project is
complete in 2011. ITD and the
contractor explored numerous alternatives for keeping the bike path open, but
all options were considered cost prohibitive.
Blasting work is tentatively scheduled to resume
late next week. Blasting will
occur one to two times a week in the afternoon. Motorists should anticipate some delays while the charges are set off
and any debris cleared. This
work will continue through the summer.
The current bridge is a
295-foot trestle bridge built during the 1930s and is now the most restrictive
bridge on U.S. 2 through Idaho. It
will be replaced with a 72-foot-wide steel bridge. The highway will be
realigned and access improved into the city of Dover. A bicycle/pedestrian trail is included
in the project.
The prime contractor for this $22 million
project is Sletten Construction Co., of Great Falls, Mont. The project is expected to be complete
in the Fall of 2011.
ITD and the Idaho State
Police caution motorists to slow down and pay attention when driving in work
zones, where increased speeding fines and other penalties apply. Motorists are
encouraged to plan ahead and dial 5-1-1 or visit 511.idaho.gov for information
on the state highway or interstate system.