Idaho

Transportation Department

8/24/2006






Government Way Bridge project nears completion; bridge expected to reopen Saturday (Aug. 26)
COEUR d'ALENE -- A project to remove and rebuild the Government Way Bridge over Interstate 90 in Coeur d'Alene is nearly complete, and the bridge is expected to reopen Saturday (Aug. 26), the Idaho Transportation Department announced.

The bridge has been closed for approximately a year. The new steel girder bridge:

• Meets current height requirements for interstate highways
  
• Is four lanes wide and includes sidewalks
• Makes Government Way four lanes from Harrison Avenue to Dalton Avenue

Local businesses will celebrate the bridge reopening during a street fair on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Northwind Plaza, 2415 N. Government Way. For more information about this event, call Jeannette Delia at (208) 676-8180.

The original Government Way bridge was built in 1958. It had to be replaced because it was beginning to deteriorate and it no longer met interstate width standards. One lane on the bridge was closed for about a year in 2004-05 because of safety concerns after a number of over-height loads on I-90 collided with the bridge.

The Government Way bridge closed for reconstruction on June 27, 2005. Demolition of the old bridge took place the following month.

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MEDIA NOTE: If you are interested in covering the street fair hosted by local businesses, please call Jeannette Delia at (208) 676-8180.