Bridge replacement begins Monday

CLARK FORK — The U.S. Forest Service will begin replacement work on the Johnson Creek Bridge near Clark Fork River starting Monday, Oct. 10.

Located on the eastern shore of Lake Pend Oreille, the bridge will remain closed to public use for the duration of the project with an expected completion in February 2023. During that time, travelers should use alternate driving routes.

Johnson Creek Bridge, a treated timber structure built in 1957, is located at mile marker 0.71 on Johnson Creek Road. The bridge is located immediately south of the Clark Fork River delta, near Highway 200, just west of Clark Fork.

Forest Service engineers have identified structural deficiencies in the timber structure and will replace it with a concrete bulb tree bridge that will provide access to the Johnson Creek-Lakeview Road for decades to come.

This project is undertaken in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Idaho Department of Lands.

Alternate driving routes

• For travelers heading south from Highway 200 driving to Lakeview, Cedar Creek, Whiskey Rock, and Granite:

The recommended detour from the north is taking Dry Creek Road/Forest Service Road 230 to High Drive Road/Forest Service Road 332, then tie back into Johnson Creek Road via Johnson Saddle Road/Forest Service Road 1066 to Forest Service Road 278/Johnson Creek Road.

Alternatively, another detour would be Twin Creek Road/Forest Service Road 277 to Ruen Creek Road/Forest Service Road 1021 to High Drive Road/Forest Service Road 332, then tie back into Johnson Creek Road via Johnson Saddle Road/Forest Service Road 1066 to Forest Service Road 278/Johnson Creek Road.

These locations can be accessed from the south on Bunco Road/Forest Service Road 332 to Johnson Creek Road/Forest Service Road 278.

Forest Service officials said they appreciate the public’s tolerance of the inconveniences while the needed upgrades are underway.