9/6/2016
Traffic shifting onto new section of Idaho 75 Big Wood River Bridge today (Tuesday)
KETCHUM – Replacement of the Big Wood River Bridge on Idaho 75 is crossing the mid-point with the completion of the western half of the structure today (Tuesday, Sept. 6). The subtle event will be marked by an overnight shift of all traffic onto the newly constructed portion of the bridge.
Paving the approaching roadway, roadway striping, and other roadway details are being completed before a shift of traffic onto the new structure prior to the morning commute Wednesday. In recent weeks, crews have been finalizing retention walls, building road base, installing guardrail, and facilitating utility relocation work.
Construction of phase one started in January, as crews rushed to complete work in the river channel prior to the arrival of spring run-off. The beginning of phase two — removal of the existing crossing and construction of the east half of the bridge — is slated to begin immediately after the traffic switch.
The project is expected to be complete by early summer 2017.
Traffic will remain limited to two lanes — one lane in each direction — for the remainder 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.
When complete, the new Big Wood River Bridge will facilitate four lanes of traffic with eight-foot shoulders and a four-foot 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 will be lengthened to improved wildlife passage along the river.
Concrete Placing Company Inc., of Boise, is the contractor for the $5.5 million bridge replacement.
The bridge replacement is the second project developed for construction as outlined in the Timmerman to Ketchum Final Environmental Impact Statement (Idaho 75 FEIS) completed in August 2008. The design elements of the Big Wood River Bridge project are based on the findings of the Idaho 75 FEIS. Development and construction of future projects along the corridor is undetermined and not currently funded.