Council approves arch to span Big Wood
Arching the Big Wood. The Ketchum City
Council selected this wooden arched bridge to replace the historic Broadway Bridge, near
the Warm Springs Road bridge over the Big Wood River. Construction is expected to begin
this fall. Computer rendering courtesy Lars Guy, CAD Drafting Systems
By GREG STAHL
Express Staff Writer
After nine months of Ketchum City Council meetings, the panel unanimously
voted for an arched wooden bridge to replace the historic Broadway Bridge, which spans the
Big Wood River adjacent to the Warm Springs Road bridge.
The arched bridge will be funded as part of a local improvement district
(LID), including residents of Broadway Boulevard, Exhibition Boulevard and Sunnyside road,
all on the west side of the river.
The city council agreed to split the cost of the new bridge with the
residents. Under the formula, LID participants will pay 10 percent of the cost, and the
city picks up the rest of the tab out of general funds.
When asked how the council arrived at the split, Councilman David
Hutchinson said that traffic circulation in the neighborhood was impaired when the
Broadway Bridge was closed last fall.
The city council, representing the general taxpayers, cast taxpayers’
votes on the bridge design, he said.
The council had three bridge options to consider. Also, LID participants
were permitted to sign off on their preferred bridge designs.
A covered bridge design received 26 LID votes; the arched
bridge—approved by the council—received 18 votes. A third bridge, also with an
arched design, received no votes.
The approved arched bridge will cost $260,000.
The covered bridge’s cost was $270,000; the third bridge’s cost
also was $260,000.
Construction is expected to begin this fall.
