Vehicle access verboten at Pack River Bridge

SANDPOINT — Volunteers installed an array of donated boulders Friday near the Pack River Bridge on Colburn Culver Road to prevent vehicles from driving in the river.

The project was developed earlier this fall in response to concerns raised by area residents and resource officials over damage being inflicted on the riverbed and banks from four-wheel and all-terrain vehicles.

The boulders are meant to seal off vehicle access at four points on the north side of the bridge. The river access site is on private property, although the landowner still wants the public to be able to use it for swimming, sunbathing, fishing and paddling.

Vehicles, however, are verboten.

Since it's not public property, several agencies rounded up donated labor and materials to do the project. Members of the Bonner Soil & Water Conservation Service, the Pend Oreille Basin Commission, and Natural Resources Conservation Service worked on the project Friday. Commissioner Lewis Rich was also there Friday to lend a hand.

Project benefactors include Pack River Rock, Peak Sand & Gravel, Apex Construction Services, Jeremy Grove and Bailey Hauling & Excavation.