Bolstering bridges
Photo courtesy of Idaho Transportation Department “Kenny,” the Idaho Transportation Department’s Kenworth under-bridge inspection truck, has been utilized on bridges across Idaho this summer, including here on the Long Bridge near Sandpoint. It has also been used for bridge inspections throughout Kootenai County.
By BRIAN WALKER
Staff Writer
COEUR d'ALENE — Bridges on Interstate 90 will be bolstered to the tune of $4 million this fall and next spring.
"Work will mostly seal the decks of the bridges to extend their service lives, though some bridges will get painted and receive new expansion joints," said Megan Sausser, Idaho Transportation Department spokeswoman.
Bridges in Post Falls at Idaho Street, McGuire Road, Seltice Way and Pointe Parkway will be worked on starting Monday through mid-October. Work will be overnight Monday through Friday between 7:30 p.m. and 5:30 a.m.
"Sealing the surface of each bridge is expected to last about one week, and during that time, at least one lane of traffic will remain open," Sausser said.
Bridge maintenance along I-90 that's planned next spring includes: the Spokane River bridge at the state line, Pleasant View, Spokane Street, Huetter Road and Atlas Road. Completion on those is planned for June.
The work this fall and next spring will come on the heels of the $10.9 million repair of the Blue Creek Bay bridges on I-90 this summer.
Sausser said the bridge near Rose Lake on Highway 3 was also identified in need of repairs.
The U.S. 95 bridge at I-90 will be inspected in the spring.
The Idaho Transportation Department has been inspecting more than 100 of the 4,200 bridges across the state this summer with its under-bridge inspection truck, a Kenworth A-62 the agency calls "Kenny."
The truck has an arm with a bucket that can extend 62 feet to under the substructure of bridges.
ITD encourages social media followers to safely snap a photo of Kenny in action and use the hashtag #catchKenny.
Jim Holland, who has been a bridge inspector for ITD for 29 years, said bridge inspections have always been a top priority in Idaho. The ongoing process can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days per bridge, depending on the structure.
"It is a federally-mandated program with a large portion of the bridge inspection budget coming from federal funds," Holland said. "With our small ITD staff and several consulting firms, ITD has managed to stay ahead of the curve."
- Meanwhile, the bridge over the railroad on Highway 3 in St. Maries will be closed this fall through December as the bridge will be reconstructed. The project is slated to be completed by spring.
During construction, the adjacent bridge over the St. Joe River will be re-opened to one lane in each direction. Temporary signs will be installed along the detour through town.
For more information on the project, call 208-292-8515 or email gpuddy@langdongroupinc.com.