Baby steps for Wallace Bridge Project
This temporary bridge sits upon the current Sixth Street Bridge in Wallace. The temporary bridge has been in place for three years as construction on the new bridge moves closer and closer.
Photo by JOSH McDONALD
WALLACE — Last week, the Wallace City Council made a few decisions regarding its ongoing Sixth Street Bridge Project. With Wallace’s required specificity in all of its decisions on projects, one of the topics was concerning the design for the concrete railing on the bridge.
Wallace City Councilwoman Michele Bisconer explained their design decision which will stay in line with the current design.
“We decided on a cement tile that most closely matches the color and texture of the railing or side walls of the current bridge,” Bisconer explained.
The council also had to approve a permanent easement for property that was owned by the city that a portion of the bridge will sit on.
The small .002-acre (14-square-foot) section of land is located where Sixth Street meets the Northern Pacific Depot Museum lawn, and was done specifically to prevent any current or future owners of the property from ever being able to claim that they own a piece of the bridge.
“The replacement bridge will look as similar as possible to the current bridge,” said Councilwoman Heather Branstetter. “These two approvals were needed so we could bring this project into a place where it is ready for approval. Ideally, we are now all set to begin work as soon as the state of Idaho is ready.”
The current Sixth Street Bridge is 101 years old and connects the downtown of Wallace to Nine Mile Canyon and Dobson Pass.
The bridge was put under a weight restriction in early 2018 and a temporary bridge was placed to allow heavier vehicles to traverse from Nine Mile Canyon into Wallace instead of having to go over Dobson Pass and follow the Old River Road to get to I-90.
In 2019, the city made its decision for the scheduled design of the new bridge, which is set to cost $1.53 million.
With the chosen design, the city will be able to avoid the need for two culverts where Nine Mile Creek and Printer’s Creek converge into the South Fork of the Coeur d'Alene River.
The expected funding for the project is being administered through LHTAC in accordance with the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) and is scheduled for completion by 2026 — although city officials are working to move that date sooner.