Schweitzer Cutoff bridge deterioration forces limits

SANDPOINT — The condition of the Schweitzer Cutoff Road bridge has deteriorated to the point where weight restrictions are now being imposed for the structure over Sand Creek. The restrictions follow a July inspection by the Idaho Transportation Department.

Following the inspection, Sandpoint and Ponderay officials were notified by ITD that the weight limit of the bridge is 6.3 tons per axle. A public meeting will be held for the trucking industry Monday, Nov. 16 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall council chambers.

“Those load restrictions will go into effect when we receive the signs,” said Kody Van Dyk, Public Works director. “The signs are being made by the state right now.”

Idaho Transportation Department inspects bridges. Van Dyk said two years ago, the bridge was inspected and did not have weight restrictions. In July, the state did another inspection and mistakenly sent the documentation to the county. The city received the letter in late October stating they had to put weight restrictions on the bridge.

Van Dyk said the city does not know why the bridge deteriorated so quickly. Two years ago it was rated at a 76, and currently it is rated at four. ITD has a rating for the bridge at six. Van Dyk said there are cracks in the girders, cracks across the supports and on the underside of the bridge. Built in 1975, the bridge had a daily average traffic use of 8,200 in 2010, the most recent year data is available on a national bridge database.

“Anything over 50 is considered very good,” Van Dyk said. “So all this time we have been designing this bridge, we were never eligible for bridge replacement funds.”

Dan Coonce, federal aid area manager for the Local Highway Technical Assistance Council, said the bridge rating was dropped because of wear and tear and because the bridge inspectors are conducting more rigorous checks after the bridge failure in Minnesota in 2007. He said the bridge was ineligible for funding until it dropped below a 50 rating. LHTAC helps local jurisdictions obtain funding for transportation projects

“Bridge inspection reports have significantly changed because they’re looking at it more stringently as opposed to two years ago,” Coonce said. “With the amount of stress each one gets day in and day out, it adds to that as well.”

Van Dyk said the city applied for federal funds in 2002, through LHTAC. The funds would have covered the project on Schweitzer Cutoff road between Boyer and Sand Creek. They were awarded the funds, however, the project was supposed to start in 2016 and the only funds that remain will cover a shorter section of Schweitzer Cutoff Road between North Boyer Road and North Boyer Avenue. The engineer’s estimate was about $1.4 million.

“Inflation ate it up from 2002 to 2014,” Van Dyk said.

In 2014, city officials realized the funds were no longer available through LHTAC and applied for the federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery grant, under a national infrastructure improvement program, but did not receive the funding, Van Dyk said. The estimate during the design of the project was $3 million just for the bridge.

“One of the reasons the bridge was not funded was because it was in good shape,” Van Dyk said.

Van Dyk said the city is still looking for funding to replace the 1975 bridge. LHTAC officials will be at the meeting Monday. The city has partnered with Ponderay and they have hired a bridge expert, who will be in the area next week. Van Dyk hopes the expert will come up with an interim solution.

“The state doesn’t believe there is anything we can do in the interim, but we are going to get a second opinion,” Van Dyk said.

There is a bridge replacement program through the Local Federal Aid Incentive Program, but Van Dyk said it takes about 10 years to get funding. The application is due in January. Most of the federal and environmental permits for the project have been received and the right of way is acquired. Van Dyk does not know if having the documents ready will expedite funding.

“I’m hopeful that maybe it does,” Van Dyk said. “We will apply, no question.”

There are block grants for up to $500,000, but Van Dyk said that about 30 percent of the funds are spent on administration. Van Dyk said private funding would allow the cities to install a different type of bridge that could be a different style and cost less. He said impact fee money, partnering with Ponderay and getting a block grant could produce enough funds to replace the bridge, but that is even a stretch.

“We’re not going to be able to apply for money and get it next year and build that bridge next year,” Van Dyk said. “We are going to try to find a way to fix it as quickly and economically as we can.”

Van Dyk said that not all trucks will be impacted, and the drivers will know what their weight limits are. Trucks will now drive down Boyer to Larch Street, or go to West Bronx Road, to connect to the highway. Cars will not be impacted, however, traffic will increase in some areas. The trucks can make the roundabout on Larch Street.

“Over time, it’s probably not that big of a deal for them, but it’s kind of a pain for the rest of the city,” Van Dyk said.