A federal grant will be used to help replace the Cherrylane Bridge in Nez Perce County. U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Choa announced this week that Idaho will receive $15.7 million in discretionary grant money to replace the century-old Highway 95 span over the Clearwater River.
The project has a total budget of nearly $21 million, and county officials are confident in its own funding sources to make up the difference, along with the state’s Local Highway Technical Assistance Council and contributions from the Nez Perce Tribe.
Construction on the single-lane Cherrylane Bridge began in 1919, and it is now rated as structurally deficient.
The new 800-foot-long two-lane bridge will be built about 70 feet upstream of the existing structure, relocating the bridge approach intersection with Highway 12. It will also feature shoulder bikeways on each side for cyclists and pedestrians.
Right of way has been acquired and environmental work has been approved. Construction on the one-to-two year project could begin in 2020. (KTVB, Lewiston Tribune)
