RIGBY - Bridge construction will close a section of the U.S. 26 business loop southwest of Ririe beginning Monday (April 18). Crews will complete construction of the Enterprize Canal Bridge, located one-third of a mile southwest of Ririe. The project is funded by new revenue.

The Idaho Transportation Board advanced a group of 27 projects in 2015 using funds allocated by the Idaho Legislature for the state’s first transportation-revenue increase in nearly two decades. Doing so enabled the advancement of dozens of other critically needed road and bridge projects statewide in the future. This is one of that initial group of projects. These increases are financing five projects in eastern Idaho (see attached map).

Traffic will be detoured along the east section of the U.S. 26 business loop south of Ririe and along 115 East to the west of Ririe.

Motorists can enter and leave Ririe via Idaho 48, County Line Road, the U.S. 26 business loop south of town, and the Archer Highway north of town.

During construction, crews will grade approaches to the new bridge and place guardrail. Workers replaced the old bridge, built in 1931, with a wider, longer structure of precast concrete in December. The project is scheduled for completion April 29, weather permitting.

Traffic-control personnel will place portable electronic message boards on U.S. 26 and Idaho 48 to notify drivers of the road closure.

Businesses and residences on the U.S. 26 business loop southwest of town will be accessible from either end of the road, but the route will be closed to through traffic.

The transportation department awarded the $305,000 contract to Knife River Corporation’s southern Idaho division, based in Boise.