Curiosity slows bridge commute

SANDPOINT — Curiosity, construction and high traffic volumes are making for a challenging commute across the Long Bridge on U.S. Highway 95.

The combination of factors are producing 20- to 30-minute wait times to cross the span during peak travel hours, fraying the nerves of motorists.

John Perfect, a resident engineer for the Idaho Transportation Department, said southbound motorists tend to be inquisitive about work on the bridge deck, enough so that they’ll slow or stop to ask workers and flaggers about the mysterious heavy machinery covered with tarps, which is causing traffic tie-ups.

The machine is used to apply an epoxy on the bridge deck, which protects it from wear and tear by vehicles. The tarps are meant to keep dust and debris from mingling with the two-ingredient adhesive. The machine mixes and extrudes the epoxy so it can be spread onto the bridge deck.

“It’s creating a mystery,” Perfect said of the equipment.

Northbound motorists with a better line of sight as they enter the construction zone are less inquisitive about the equipment, leading to fewer stops and queries.

ITD stationed flaggers on the bridge in an attempt to keep things moving, but that proved unhelpful.

“They were stopping and asking the flaggers about the work,” Perfect said.

The mere presence of an intensive construction zone on the bridge is slowing traffic, as are the people who slow or stop to ask about the work. There are also the occasional hiccups with contractors, who parked in the construction zone in the center of the bridge, but left their vehicle doors open, which encroached into the open lanes of travel. Perfect said that issue has been resolved.

Cooling weather is also factoring into the $2.2 million bridge rehabilitation project. ITD has been upbraided by the public for not conducting the work at night, although department spokesman Scotty Fellom said the nature of the work prevented it.

The bridge deck’s temperature has to be at least 55 degrees in order for the epoxy to properly adhere.

During the summer, crews could apply the epoxy as early as 8 a.m., although those times have been pushed back as cooler weather descends.

“We don’t get up to temp until noon, said Fellom.

Perfect said ITD shifted the epoxy application work to later in the summer so as not to conflict with the high volumes of pre-Labor Day traffic.

Nevertheless, Fellom said the work is on track. The bridge deck work is slated to be complete by the end of the month, although below-deck work on piers will continue into October.