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Signs to be dedicated as historic bridge gets
replaced |
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July 3, 2017 |
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In 2014, the Idaho Transportation Department
proposed replacing the historic Round Prairie
Creek Bridge on US Highway 95 near the Canadian
border. The 24 feet wide and 31.6 feet long
bridge, an example of a tee-beam bridge from the
1930s, was designed in 1932, cast in concrete
and completed in 1933.
The replacement bridge is to be a full span beam
structure with a span length of 52 feet and a
width of 44 feet; with abutments of precast
concrete founded on pilings.
The work will also consist of asphalt overlay,
three box culverts and one pipe culvert. The
project is funded by the Federal Highway
Administration.
The Idaho Transportation Department recognized
that the proposed project of removing and
replacing the bridge would adversely affect the
characteristics that made the site “historic
property.”
In accordance with the Advisory Council on
Historic Preservation regulations, Section
800.11(e) and Section 110(1) of the National
Historic Preservation Act of 1966, a
“Determination of Adverse Effect” was drawn up
to determine what action should be taken.
The Federal Highway Administration consulted
with the Idaho State Historical Preservation
Officer and concluded that the project’s adverse
effects could not be avoided, and a Memorandum
of Agreement was drawn up to replace this
historic site.
The Memorandum of Agreement between the Federal
Highway Administration, Idaho Transportation
Department, Idaho State Historical Preservation
Officer, International Selkirk Loop, Boundary
County Historical Society and the City of
Bonners Ferry determined the replacement would
be interpretive signs with text and photos
provided by the Historical Society.
One sign will be placed on the southern remnant
of the historic Kootenai River Bridge to
describe the many ways of crossing the river,
and two signs are to be hung on the historic
brick building which houses the Fairbanks Morse
diesel generator which supplied power to the
City of Bonners Ferry in the 1930s.
Kate McManus, Architectural Historian, Idaho
Transportation Department, and Stephanie Sims,
Executive Director, International Selkirk Loop
were in contact with the Boundary County
Historical Society throughout the process of
creating the interpretive signs.
The Education Committee for the Historical
Society; Dottie Gray, Trustee, Howard Kent,
Historian, Terry Howe, Field Researcher, and Sue
Kemmis, Museum Curator, undertook the gathering
of historic photos and writing of historic
information to be placed on the signs.
Jane Rohling, Communication Arts, Eagle, Idaho,
provided the graphic layout for the project.
Installation will be provided by the City of
Bonners Ferry. The bridge panel was endorsed by
the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho.
A dedication program has been scheduled for S1
p.m. Saturday, July 15, at the site of the
interpretive signs. The program will include a
“walk through” of the Fairbanks Morse diesel
generator building.
Please plan to attend! |
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