12/17/2015
U.S. 26 business loop southwest of Ririe to reopen Saturday (Dec. 19)
RIGBY - The U.S. 26 business loop southwest of Ririe will reopen Saturday (Dec. 19), weeks ahead of schedule. Crews have completed replacing the Enterprize Canal Bridge, located one-third of a mile southwest of Ririe.
The project was originally scheduled for three weeks in duration, but took just one week. Removal of the old bridge and placement of the new prefabricated structure proceeded quickly.
Approaches to the new bridge will be graded in the spring when the frozen ground thaws. Guardrail also will be installed. Until then, the posted speed limit will be reduced to 35 mph.
Motorists should anticipate uneven surfaces in the construction area and on the bridge throughout the winter.
Workers replaced the old bridge, built in 1931, with a wider, longer structure of precast concrete this week.
The transportation department awarded Knife River Corporation’s southern Idaho division, based in Boise, the $305,000 contract for the project.
The cost of the bridge replacement is being funded by user-fee increases approved by the Idaho Legislature in House Bill 312a earlier this year. These increases will finance five projects in eastern Idaho (see attached map) in 2015 and 2016.