Building a better bridge

Boating fans of Black Creek Bay reached out to The Press earlier this week concerned about a missing feature — signs warning users of area safety hazards.

Signage reinforcing safety precautions near the Black Creek Bay Recreation Site and Trail, located within the Wallace Forest Conservation Area, has been absent since two bridges underwent repairs by the Idaho Transportation Department. 

ITD contracted with Record Steel & Construction, Inc. in Spring 2018 to perform structural maintenance on the two Interstate 90 bridges near Wolf Lodge Bay in 2018, public information officer Megan Jahns said. 

"The goal was to extend the service life of both bridges another 50 years," Jahns explained. "The original structures were built in 1951 and 1972."

The $10.9 million projects concluded in Fall 2020 after teams applied corrosion protectants, painted supporting structures and rehabilitated the driving surfaces of both bridges, she said. However, Jahns noted RSCI could only place temporary expansion joints instead of the permanent fixtures that allow the bridge to expand and contract with the weather safely. 

"RSCI completed all the critical components of the project," Jahns said. "Another project is planned, but not included in the program yet, to replace the temporary joints with permanent joints."

Still, a Press reader expressed that since crews finished at the site almost a year ago, "none of the signage or light warnings have been reinstalled — causing some significant safety concerns." They also said many of the new metal columns have missing patches of paint. 

"ITD removed the signs during the construction phase, and they told us at the beginning of the season that either new signs or the old signs would be returned," Kootenai County Recreation Safety Deputy Jonathon Traw said. "We weren't given a time frame when they would be put back up, but hopefully sooner than later."

The Black Creek Bay Bridge project manager said teams are in the process of fabricating new boater safety signs for the area, Jahns stated. 

Despite the absence of signage, Traw said KCSO expects boaters to follow local waterway laws like creating no wakes when 200 feet from all shores, docks, and structures — including bridges. 

"Based on our out-of-state population, having the signs return would really aid people following that law," Traw said. "Even for in-state boaters, it's nice to have that reminder." 

Jahns said the agency hasn't set a date to install permanent bridge joints, but it will likely depend on when replacements are necessary. 

"The temporary joints are being maintained by our operations staff and are expected to last until the next project," she said.

The two bridges are part of an ongoing $3.2 million ITD initiative to repair several regional structures. Others include:

• I-90 15th Street

• I-90 Pennsylvania Avenue

• I-90 Sherman Avenue

• I-90 Potlatch Hill

• I-90 Timothy Lane

• I-90 BCB West GS

• I-90 Fourth of July summit

• I-90/ID-3 Rose Lake overpass

• I-90 Tamarack Ridge Road 

• I-90 Cataldo Mission

• I-90 Hill Top Road

• U.S.-95 Spokane River bridge

Crews should complete all projects by early October, Jahns said. 

Information on road closures and projects is available at 511.idaho.gov.