Work set to begin on I-90 Cataldo Bridge
The Cataldo Bridge along Interstate 90 will be fully replaced over the next three summers. The bridge spans the Coeur d'Alene River and located right along the Kootenai/Shoshone County lines.
Courtesy of ITD
CATALDO –– A major bridge project is set to begin this week on Interstate 90.
The Cataldo Bridge, spanning the Coeur d’Alene River, has been in place for 60 years, but over the next three summer construction seasons, the bridge will be fully replaced.
This week, crews will be working on the bridge, constructing a temporary work bridge that will span the river. Crews will also be creating the traffic crossovers that will be used during the project.
Heather McDaniel, a public information officer with the Idaho Transportation Department, explained how the project will be like recent bridge projects that were completed in Kellogg.
“Starting in spring of 2025 crews will hit the ground running by using the crossovers built in 2024 to shift traffic onto the westbound bridge while the eastbound bridge is demolished and reconstructed,” McDaniel explained. “Reconstruction of the eastbound bridge is expected to be completed by the end of 2025. Traffic will be returned to its normal configuration of divided east and westbound lanes, with no lane restrictions over winter for safe travel and effective snow removal operations.”
The work taking place this summer will keep traffic divided in the east and westbound lanes, however, it will be reduced to single lanes to give the workers plenty of room to complete their work safely.
The project will be a mirror image of itself in 2026, with traffic being shifted onto the newly constructed eastbound bridge allowing for demolition and reconstruction of the westbound structure.
McDaniel understands that lane reductions and reduced speeds inconvenience commuters, but safety is key to keeping the projects on schedule.
“ITD encourages drivers to ‘know before you go’ by utilizing the 511 system to check for real-time updates and traffic impacts throughout construction,” McDaniel said.
The project is expected to be fully completed by the end of 2026.
Another project that locals will want to stay abreast of is the upcoming replacement of the Canyon Road Bridge, which sits just a few hundred yards north of I-90 Cataldo Bridge.
That project will be handled mainly by the East Side Highway District, working with the Local Highway Technical Assistance Council. According to information provided by McDaniel, the current bridge structure is 88 years old and no longer meets design or safety standards.
“Currently, this bridge has height and load restrictions in place,” McDaniel said. “Due to its current condition, the Canyon Road Bridge cannot be safely used as a makeshift detour by any I-90 traffic attempting to avoid the CDA River Bridge work zone.”
The East Side Highway District will be hosting a public meeting in early 2025 prior to the construction on the Canyon River Bridge.