Bridge project hearing set

The Idaho Transportation Department holds a meeting next week to take public input regarding plans to rebuild a bridge spanning Elmore and Owyhee counties.

The meeting dealing with the Snake River Bridge project runs from 4 to 7 p.m. Dec. 17 at Bruneau Elementary School, 25841 Benham Ave., in Bruneau.

Representatives with the state transportation department will be available that evening to answer questions from the public and will have displays illustrating the bridge replacement project.

The $6 million project is being funded with federal funds with the bridge expected to be completely replaced, one half at a time.

The bridge was selected to be replaced because it's structurally deficient, said Adam Rush, an ITD spokesman.

Crews will construct the new bridge in the same location and when complete will have wider shoulders to better accommodate vehicle traffic. Another of the benefits behind the project is that the rebuilt bridge will need fewer piers in the Snake River, Rush said.

During construction, one lane of the existing bridge will remain open. However, wide load vehicles will be detoured to the Grand View Bridge.

At the earliest, construction could begin in the summer of 2016. ITD expects to have the project completed by early 2018.

The state transportation department will continue to take public comments through Dec. 31. People may submit them via e-mail at adam.rush@itd.idaho.gov or they can mail them to the Idaho Transportation Department, c/o Adam Rush, P. O. Box 7129, Boise, ID 83707-1129. Mailed comments need a postmark by midnight Dec. 31.

For more information, people can call Rush at 334-8119. Information on the project is also available online at www.itd.idaho.gov/projects/D3/ID51SnakeRiverBridge/default.htm.