Boater warns of bridge barge

SAGLE — A Bonner County boater is warning fellow boaters to proceed carefully underneath the Long Bridge at night.

Sagle resident Charles Rieger Jr. said he was passing beneath the span on Thursday night and nearly struck a construction work barge that’s moored under the bridge.

“I got within 10 feet of the thing and I didn’t see it,” said Rieger, who was able to steer clear of the obstruction because he was proceeding slowly.

Rieger, however, is concerned that other boaters might think there is unobstructed passage beneath the south end of the bridge near Forty-one South. He said navigation lights on the bridge may give the appearance of safe passage.

“The barge blocks the whole entrance,” he said.

Adding to Rieger’s concern is the prospect of more boating traffic during the Labor Day weekend.

The barge is being used as part of a bridge rehabilitation project. Robert Cunningham, an Idaho Transportation Department’s project manager, took Rieger’s report under advisement and said on Friday he would look into the matter.