Bonner County Road and Bridge outlines summer paving, culvert repairs and railroad crossing work

Road and Bridge Director Todd reported at the Bonner County meeting that county crews are running multiple asphalt, chip-seal and culvert-repair projects this summer, that Rapid Lighting Bridge No. 5 is under construction and that the Colburn Bridge over Grouse Creek has been awarded to Kramer Construction with a preconstruction meeting planned soon.

The director said the work affects travel on several county roads and includes coordination with the Idaho Transportation Department and multiple railroad companies. He described an effort to change an older state-era statute from 1930 that currently limits local responsibility to two feet from the rail; the director said Federal Railroad Administration rules require safety measures within 25 feet of tracks and that the difference drives extra contractor and training costs.

The county’s summer program includes asphalt lifts and final layers on Large Street and Vaden, an asphalt placement scheduled on or about June 19 on Garfield Bay, and recent paving of Center Valley. Chip-seal operations are planned after the final asphalt lifts and will be followed by striping. Road and Bridge crews are also doing mag (magnesium chloride binder) applications; Todd said mag crews in District 1 are “a good 3 weeks behind schedule” but that some weather…