Highway 200 bridge work this fall

HOPE — An apparent low bidder has emerged in a project to rehabilitate the BNSF Railway bridge on Highway 200, the Idaho Transportation Department has announced.

Westway Construction of Airway Heights, Wash., was the low bidder for the $1.3 million project. Construction is not expected to begin until after Labor Day to lessen impacts to motorists and area residents.

The bridge, which carries traffic over the railroad line and the Hope Boat Basin on Lake Pend Oreille, will have its deck removed and replaced with a new concrete surface. Bridge expansion joints will also be repaired.

The highway will be closed during construction and traffic will be detoured to the business loop through Hope and East Hope. The loop is part of the state highway system.

The detour route will be resurfaced and striped to accommodate the traffic. Minor repairs will also be made to the Strong Creek Bridge and parking will be altered slightly to facilitate two-way traffic.

The detour’s speed limit will be 25 mph and flaggers will be on hand to guide traffic through the work zone area.