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Long-awaited bridge project to begin in Pinehurst

by JOSH McDONALD
Local Editor | July 3, 2025 1:00 AM

PINEHURST – The nearly 60-year-old bridge connecting Pinehurst to the Bauman’s Addition area of Kingston over Pine Creek is set to receive a brand-new deck, replacing the current one that is beyond repair.

Planning for the project began nearly a decade ago after the bridge received one of the lowest structural ratings in the state, according to Pinehurst Police Chief John Richter and officials at City Hall.

Dave Olson, Pinehurst’s Streets Overseer, has been involved since the initial grant proposal. He explained how the project’s scope and costs have evolved over time.

Initially estimated at $1.5 million, the project was funded through a federal grant requiring a 7.34% local match—about $111,000—which the city gradually saved while awaiting construction.

However, the project was delayed indefinitely when the federal funding source dried up. In the meantime, construction costs rose and state bridge standards changed.

A turning point came when the Idaho Transportation Department re-evaluated the bridge and found its pilings were in better condition than previously believed.

“One of the things we didn’t know initially was how deep the pilings were, and we found out they’re very deep and sound,” Olson said. “That’s made a huge difference.”

Thanks to the stable pilings, the project was scaled back to a deck replacement only—keeping it within the original budget and avoiding an increase in the city’s financial contribution.

Construction begins Tuesday, July 8. The bridge will be fully closed during the work, which will speed up completion and reduce costs.

“We wanted to make sure it was ready to go when the school buses start running again,” Olson said. “We are also saving roughly $500,000 by doing it all at once and not one lane at a time.”

The Main Street Bridge project is expected to be completed by late August.