Media Manager

CROUCH - A public hearing will be held on Tuesday, March 15, to take comment on a project to replace the Middle Fork Payette River Bridge south of Crouch.

The hearing will be from 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. at the Crouch Community Hall, 1022 Old Crouch Road. It will be an open-house format. Those interested in attending can stop by anytime between 4 and 7 p.m. Project staff will be available to answer questions and displays will illustrate information. A public hearing officer also will be available to take verbal comments.

The primary need for the project is safety. The bridge's timber deck is in poor condition. In addition, abutements are cracked and there is general wear and tear on the bridge. Those conditions led to weight restrictions for loads crossing the bridge.

The existing bridge was built in 1935, with the bridge deck and other components replaced around 1964. In addition, the north span of the bridge was rebuilt in 1990. The bridge serves the local community, links several outdoor recreational venues, and serves agricultural, mining and timber businesses. It allows motorists to use Old Crouch Road to get to Middle Fork Road or Anderson Creek Road.

The new bridge will be approximately 37.5-feet-wide and 146-feet-long. It will include two 12-foot lanes and a 6-foot shoulder on each side. The shoulders will provide safe access to pedestrian and bicycle traffic. The bridge will not have the weight restrictions that limit the existing bridge.