Oregon Public Broadcasting

The federal stimulus money is starting to work its way to the some of the most pressing transportation projects in the region. One of those is a crumbling bridge in north Idaho.

State agencies have now handed in their requests to a vetting committee appointed by Idaho Governor Butch Otter. Inland Northwest Correspondent Doug Nadvornick reports.

The Dover Bridge, just a few miles west of Sandpoint, Idaho, was built in the late 1930s. Two years ago, Popular Mechanics magazine proclaimed it as one of the 10 pieces of infrastructure in the U.S. in most need of repair.

Seattle’s Alaskan Way Viaduct was also on the list.

The Dover Bridge carries cars and trucks into town over a set of railroad tracks. That’s something that scares Dover Mayor Randy Curless.

Randy Curless: “We look at it with a worst case scenario of that bridge going down on top of a train with hazardous material with a school bus or something like that on it.”

The Idaho Transportation Department proposes to spend $37 million to replace the Dover Bridge. That’s one of the most expensive items on Idaho’s transportation wish list.

Governor Otter’s stimulus committee has two weeks to review agencies’ requests and make recommendations.