12/28/2015
Big Wood River Bridge replacement to begin next week
KETCHUM – With a short window to complete work before spring runoff begins filling the Big Wood River, the first stage of construction to replace the Big Wood River Bridge along Idaho 75 south of Ketchum will begin following the New Year’s weekend.
Weather permitting, work will start Monday (Jan. 4) with traffic control and storm-water pollution prevention items, but work will quickly move into the river channel to begin installing a center pier and abutments on the river’s edge.
Download a photograph of the Big Wood River Bridge.
When complete, the new Big Wood River Bridge will facilitate four lanes with widened shoulders and a safety median. The project will blend the new bridge-lane configuration into the existing five-lane sections north and south of the bridge. In addition to widening the bridge, the bridge will be lengthened to include improved wildlife passage under the structure.
The first stage of construction will build the western half of the bridge and is expected to be complete by mid-summer, 2016. Phase two and construction of the eastern half will begin in late summer with roadway work followed by work in the river channel starting in October. Final roadway paving and project completion is expected by early summer of 2017.
“There are some complex aspects to this construction project, from the active roadway to the varying water levels and environmental sensitivity of the area,” Engineering Manager Justin Price said. “We will be taking every precaution to ensure a successful project and a long-lasting bridge.”
During construction, traffic will be reduced to two lanes of traffic – one lane in each direction – for the duration of the project. Traffic speeds will remain at 35 mph through the construction zone and drivers are reminded to use caution merging into the single lane from each direction.
For more information, go to the project website at http://itd.idaho.gov/projects/D4/Idaho75TimmermanToKetchum/bigwoodriverbridge.html.
Concrete Placing Company Inc., of Boise, is the contractor for the $5.48 million bridge replacement.
This is the second project developed for construction as outlined in the Timmerman to Ketchum Final Environmental Impact Statement (Idaho 75 FEIS) that was completed in August 2008. The design elements of the Big Wood River Bridge project are based on the Idaho 75 FEIS environmental document.
Preparations to replace the current Big Wood River Bridge have been taking place since early 2014 while construction of the Timber Way to Big Wood River Bridge project was taking place. The bridge construction was not expected to begin until the fall of 2016, but early completion of the project plans has allowed the expedited start.