7/11/2005
Government Way bridge demolition scheduled Wednesday-Thursday night in Coeur d'Alene; nighttime detours on I-90
COUER d'ALENE - Demolition of the Government Way bridge above Interstate 90 is scheduled to begin at 10 p.m. Wednesday (July 13), the Idaho Transportation Department announced.
Bridge demolition will take place on two consecutive nights, between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. Traffic on I-90 will be detoured both nights and return to the normal route during daylight hours. Westbound I-90 traffic will be diverted onto Appleway at 4th Street; eastbound traffic will exit at the U.S. 95 interchange.
Motorists are advised to watch for reduced speed limits. Traffic on I-90
should return to normal on Friday (July 15).
The Government Way bridge closed
June 27. Motorists must use one of the following alternate routes to cross
I-90:
- Ramsey Road/Northwest Blvd.
- U.S. 95
- 4th Street
- 15th Street
Access to all businesses on Government Way is being maintained.
Built in 1958, the bridge is beginning to deteriorate and no longer meets interstate standards because it is too narrow. One lane has been closed for about a year because of safety concerns after a number of over-height loads on I-90 crashed into the bridge.
A steel-girder bridge will replace the 47-year-old structure.
The new bridge will meet current height requirements for I-90. It will be four lanes wide and include sidewalks. After completion, Government Way will be four lanes from Harrison Avenue to Dalton Avenue.
This $2.7 million project is expected to be complete in summer 2006. The contractor is Morgen Oswood of Great Falls, Mont.
For more information call the project hotline at 765-4301. Anyone who leaves a message will get a return phone call.