U.S. 95 Blackwell slough bridge repairs start Friday

COEUR d'ALENE - The Idaho Transportation Department advises motorists that a bridge rehabilitation project on the U.S. 95 Blackwell Slough Bridge south of Coeur d'Alene will create significant impacts to traffic beginning March 18.

The highway will be reduced to one lane on a 24-hour basis, until about mid-April.

The bridge deck will have a 1.5-inch layer of concrete removed. Damaged areas will be repaired, and the bridge deck will be overlaid with a new concrete surface. The project also includes bridge joint repairs and resurfacing bridge approaches with asphalt. The support piling located in the slough will be painted when weather permits.

A concrete rail will be used to separate traffic from the hydro-demolition and concrete-overlay process. Traffic will be controlled by a temporary traffic signal.

The contractor will work seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The highway will be reduced to one lane on a 24-hour/7-day basis until the project is completed.

During construction, the speed limit will be reduced to 25 mph in the work zone.

The contractor for this $446,000 project is Braun Jensen, of Payette. The project is expected to be completed by mid-April.