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Forest staff outline summer infrastructure work: Big Left Fork bridge, Joe’s Valley campground renovation and associated closures
Summary
Forest Service and committee members said a major bridge replacement and a roughly $1 million Joe's Valley campground renovation are expected this summer; construction will require temporary closures and staged volunteer support.
Forest Service staff told the Emery County Trails Committee that several larger infrastructure projects will take place this summer, including replacement of a large bridge on the Upper Left Fork and a multi‑phase renovation of Joe’s Valley Campground.
The Big Left Fork bridge project is under contract and scheduled for later this summer; staff said the new bridge will be helicopter‑lifted into place. "They're gonna fly the new bridge in," a Forest Service representative said. The bridge will be a long‑term replacement structure (design described in the meeting as metal) and could require up to a week of work for removal of the old span and placement of the new one.
The Joe’s Valley Campground renovation was described as a roughly $1 million project and is currently out for bid. Forest Service staff said the work will likely require the site to be closed for several weeks during construction and will include new pavement, chip seal, new picnic tables, fire rings, and enlarged campsite pads to accommodate larger rigs. The meeting record indicates county staff assisted with a grant reimbursement (committee discussion referenced roughly $96,000 to $97,000 in county reimbursement tied to prior purchases and support).
Other projects discussed included installation of gabion baskets and a park bench ordered for a bridal/bridle project, coordination to ship and stage materials via the Forest Service receiving point, and volunteer days for heavier rockwork. Volunteers, including Backcountry Horsemen and a youth mountain‑bike team, are expected to support some on‑site gabion and rock‑placement work under professional supervision.
Staff asked volunteer groups to coordinate timing so that heavy equipment and trained crews handle the technical elements (bridge placement, pavement work) while volunteers focus on gabion filling, rock placement and finishing tasks. No formal contract awards were announced at the meeting; bids and final project schedules were to be reported in subsequent meetings.
