Bypass work forces path shift

SANDPOINT — The route of the bike and pedestrian path at the north end of the Long Bridge will be shifted slightly as work continues on the U.S. Highway 95 bypass.

Storm pipe and underdrains are being installed where the off-ramp into Sandpoint is being constructed and the path will be moved onto the railroad embankment.

“There will be a couple of path modifications as we go on,” said Shane Webley, project engineer for lead contractor Parsons.

Fabrication of the slabs for abutment one of the main span bridge is ongoing. Rebar installation will follow.

Girder installation near the Old Power House building is also ongoing. Across Sand Creek on the peninsula, crane pads for girder work there will be built in the coming week. The setting of girder pads is also set for next week.

Near the site of the former Lakeview motel, concrete has been poured for the wing walls for the second abutment of the main span bridge. Girder bearing pads are slated for installation next week.

The Bid-Well bridge deck paving machine is moving from the Highway 200 overpass in Ponderay to the Bridge Street overpass. Near the Sandpoint Depot, form installation for the cast-in-place concrete retaining wall continues. Coping curb fabrication near Cedar Street Bridge is also ongoing.

Stage one wall construction for the mainline wall north of Cedar Street Bridge is done, which clears the way for a settlement period.

At the north end of the project, finish grading of the southbound Sand Creek Byway on-ramp is done, as are portions of paving for the Highway 200/U.S. 2 northbound off-ramp. Geotextile, cap rock installation and grading of the U.S. 95 northbound on-ramp is also complete.

The deck of the new Highway 200 overpass is undergoing a 10-day cure.

Project officials are seeking a waiver from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to allow for winter work on the mechanically-stabilized Earthen wall, known as the MSE wall, on the east side of Sand Creek.