Scorpion Creek bridge to be built on Idaho 78
A five-month project to place a bridge over Scorpion Creek on Idaho 78 in Owyhee County is expected to begin in early April, according to the Idaho Transportation Department. The south side of the bridge will be built first, then the north side.
“The new concrete slab bridge will replace three corrugated-metal culverts that run under the roadway at milepost 23. One culvert is completely plugged. The other two culverts are more than halfway filled with sediment from the creek. Water runs over the highway at that location during periods of high water, creating a safety hazard,” said ITD spokesman Reed Hollinshead.
“The new bridge addresses a safety concern with water spilling over the roadway every time Scorpion Creek floods, which is nearly an annual event. The new bridge, about six miles northwest of Murphy, will accommodate higher water levels. The roadway elevation also will be raised about two feet. The roadway approaches will be reconstructed to match the new height and the wider bridge,” he added.
No night or weekend work is anticipated, but is not prohibited, if necessary, to finish the project on time.
One lane of traffic will be maintained across the bridge during construction, controlled by a temporary traffic signal. Flaggers will be used when needed.
The existing culverts will be removed as needed to build the new bridge while still allowing for water flow.
(photo: courtesy ITD)
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