9/26/2013
Public meeting held to discuss Idaho 55 Lardo Bridge project in McCall
McCALL – The Idaho Transportation Department hosted a public meeting Wednesday evening to share plans to replace the Idaho 55 Lardo Bridge.
Comments from McCall residents ranged from support for a pedestrian overlook on the bridge to incorporating design features that match the area’s scenery.
Dean Martens, a former mayor of McCall, said the bridge should offer views of Payette Lake. “The bridge lends itself to having a pedestrian overlook,” Martens said. “Having the lake on the north side of the bridge is scenic. The lake is a real gem.”
Gabriela Hess, who owns the Alpine Pantry restaurant on the east side of the bridge, is in support of design elements that improve the bridge’s appearance.
“I think it’s a great project,” Hess said. “I look forward to structural and aesthetic improvements.”
Mike McKinney, another McCall resident, said the view from Payette Lake looking toward the bridge should also be considered.
“The bridge will be visible from the lake, and it’s going to be there 50 to 80 years,” he said.
When completed, the project will:
- Replace the existing Lardo Bridge, built in 1931
- Replace roadway approaches to the bridge
- Provide bicycle and pedestrian facilities on both sides of the bridge
- Serve as a gateway to the city of McCall
The new bridge will accommodate one lane of traffic in each direction. The transportation department will use a design-build method for this project. Design-build is a streamlined process in which the design team and construction team work together simultaneously. This method allows for innovative methods of construction and results in quicker project completion. Lardo Bridge is only the second design-build project in Idaho.
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News Directors, Editors:
For still photos of Wednesday’s public meeting, and video footage of vehicles crossing Lardo Bridge as well as video footage of the public meeting, please visit: ftp1.idaho.gov. The user name is: itdcommu. The password is: W39gy7D2. The still photos are in a folder titled Idaho 55 Lardo Bridge. The video footage is titled Idaho 55 Lardo Bridge Video-MPEG-4.mp4.