Bridge dedication today

DOVER — Governor Butch Otter and other officials will be on hand today for a dedication ceremony for the new U.S. Highway 2 bridge in Dover.

The ceremony starts at 11 a.m. beneath the bridge. Signs will be posted for parking and dedication site location.

Dover’s Depression-era truss bridge was replaced a 72-foot-wide steel structure with no overhead encumbrances. The highway has been realigned and includes improved access into the city and a bicycle/pedestrian trail, the Idaho Transportation Department said.

The project accommodates future expansion of U.S. 2 west of the bridge spanning the Union Pacific railroad to Rocky Point east of the bridge.

Dover Bridge was one of several projects identified by Gov. Otter and ITD to be built using federal stimulus funds. With current funding levels, the department can fund a major bridge replacement project every 3-4 years. To construct the Dover Bridge would have taken all of the state’s bridge construction funds for several years.

The U.S. 2 corridor through Idaho is a key link in this major east-west highway. As part of the National Highway System, U.S. 2 is a major connection for northern Idaho to Washington and the West Coast, and Montana and points east. The highway also is an important commercial truck route, including international trade with Canada, as well as local commercial truck traffic.