Seven Latah County Bridges Scheduled for Summer Repairs by Idaho Transportation Department
Seven bridges spread across Latah County are set to receive repair work this summer as part of a project managed by the Idaho Transportation Department, with construction work touching communities including Deary, Bovill, Kendrick, and Juliaetta.
Massana Construction has been tapped to carry out the work, which is designed to protect bridge decks from deterioration and reduce the likelihood of more extensive repairs down the road. The project will unfold in two phases across June, July, and August.
Which Bridges Are Being Repaired and When
The first phase kicks off in June with three bridge projects. Workers will address the Palouse River Bridge on Idaho Highway 9 near Harvard, the Big Bear Creek Bridge on Idaho Highway 8 near Deary, and the West Fork Potlatch River Bridge on Highway 8 near Bovill.
The second phase runs through July and August and covers four additional structures: the East Fork Potlatch Creek Bridge on Highway 8 near Bovill, the Ruby Creek Bridge near Bovill, the Bear Creek Bridge on Idaho Highway 3 near Kendrick, and the Middle Fork Potlatch Creek Bridge near Juliaetta. In addition, the South Fork Clearwater River Bridge on Idaho Highway 13 in neighboring Idaho County is also part of the broader repair effort.
What Drivers Should Expect
Motorists traveling through these work zones during construction hours will encounter single-lane traffic control. Lanes will be reduced to one direction at a time between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, with temporary traffic signals guiding the flow of vehicles through each site. Transportation officials say delays are expected to be brief, with most waits remaining under 15 minutes.
Travelers along Highway 8 between Deary and Bovill face the most concentrated impact, with multiple bridges along that corridor slated for work during both phases of the project. Drivers in those areas are encouraged to allow extra travel time on weekday mornings and afternoons throughout the summer months.
Road safety remains a critical concern across northern Idaho. A fatal crash on Highway 95 near Sagle serves as a reminder of the dangers that highway construction zones and rural road conditions can present to motorists, underscoring the importance of cautious driving whenever traffic patterns shift.
What Comes Next
With June repairs set to begin soon, Latah County residents and commuters along the Highway 8 and Highway 9 corridors should anticipate intermittent delays at the listed bridge locations through the end of August. The Idaho Transportation Department has not indicated any planned nighttime or weekend lane restrictions at this stage. Travelers are advised to monitor official transportation department communications for any updates to the construction schedule as the summer progresses. The preventive nature of the repairs signals an effort by state transportation officials to extend the lifespan of rural infrastructure before more costly structural problems develop.