Spokane County has awarded to Harcon Inc., of Spokane, a nearly $6 million contract to replace the structurally deficient Argonne Road Bridge across the Spokane River. The bridge, which actually consists of two bridge structures, is being replaced because of normal degradation over time to its support structures, says Jim Haines, program development engineer for the countys public works department. The project is expected to take about three years to complete.


The westernmost of the two spans, which is more than 50 years old, is to close by mid-June so Harcon can begin demolishing it, Haines says. While the west bridge is closed, the east bridge will carry one lane each of northbound and southbound traffic, he says. Demolition is expected to be completed in October or November, and Harcon will begin erecting the new span then.


Once the west bridge has been completed, the 40-year-old east bridge will be closed for demolition, and all traffic will be diverted to the west bridge. Haines says traffic likely will be congested in that area during the course of the project, and drivers should try to find alternate routes.


The new bridges each will carry two lanes of traffic, the same as the old ones, but will be wider and will have sidewalks and bike lanes. Although the bridge supports will be different, the spans appearance will be similar to that of the current bridges.