Construction to begin in earnest next month
SANDPOINT - Only ceremonial shovels of dirt were turned on the U.S. Highway 95 bypass on Thursday, but work on the historic re-routing project is either already under way or gearing up to start.
About a dozen trees near the north end of the Long Bridge have been felled and dredging in Sand Creek could start next month, according to Idaho Transportation Department officials.
Ken Sorensen, ITD's resident engineer in Bonner County, said a decision to pull the trigger on the initial dredging could come between Nov. 12-15. The first area slated to be dredged is on the west side of the creek between the Cedar and Bridge street bridges.
Sorensen said the dredging will be timed to coincide with the drafting of Lake Pend Oreille to its winter pool elevation.
Between 2,500 and 3,000 cubic yards of material are identified for removal in that area. Sorensen said contractor Parsons RCI anticipates removing 100-150 cubic yards a day.
Trucks will haul the dredged material north through town so it can be deposited on state-owned land off Colburn Culver Road. Sorensen said it will be the only material to be hauled through town because there are plans to develop a north-south haul road, which will segregate construction traffic from local traffic.
Sorensen said the haul road is slated for construction next year.
Once the initial dredging is done, Sorensen said contractor's crews will toggle to the east side of the creek to begin work on the shoreline extension. Parsons will also begin procuring steel for the bridge spans and off-ramp this fall.
Fabrication of the spans are scheduled to be done this winter and spring.
Sheet piles are scheduled to be installed in the creek south of Bridge Street Bridge to provide a crane platform. Girders for the main U.S. 95 span are slated for placement in November of next year, according to Sorensen.
Transportation officials and Parsons RCI plans to hold weekly update meetings on Thursdays at ITD's transportation information office on Second Avenue. The 11 a.m. meetings, which are open to the public, will provide a three-week work forecast.
The first update meeting is set for Nov. 6.