Projects

US-26 Swan Valley Bridge

The Swan Valley Bridge over the South Fork of the Snake River on US-26 will be repaired and improved to ensure continued safe travel.

US-26 Swan Valley Bridge

The Swan Valley Bridge over the South Fork of the Snake River on US-26 will be repaired and improved to ensure continued safe travel.

Expect Traffic Delays

In order to repair the Swan Valley Bridge successfully, a temporary traffic signal must be put into place and only one lane of travel possible while work is completed. All efforts will be made to make this unavoidable reality as smooth as possible, though drivers should be prepared for work zone delays.

The Idaho Transportation Department is repairing and improving the US-26 Swan Valley Bridge over the South Fork of the Snake River in Bonneville County. This project will ensure continued safe crossing in this beautiful scenic area.

US-26 Swan Valley Bridge, facing east showing traffic crossing in winter with snow and ice present on the ground and river.
Wintertime view of the US-26 Swan Valley Bridge, facing south.
US-26 Swan Valley Bridge over the South Fork of the Snake River in Idaho, facing east in late summer with truck and small vehicle traffic crossing.
Late summer view of the US-26 Swan Valley Bridge, facing south.

Economic Vitality, Recreational Gateway

US-26 is the primary route connecting Idaho and Wyoming. Many east Idahoans in a variety of trades commute daily to the Jackson Hole area for work. Tourists and those seeking recreational opportunities around Palisades Reservoir and beyond also utilize this beautiful drive. Without maintenance and improvement, the Swan Valley Bridge will not continue to support this travel. ITD is committed to bridge maintenance annually and making sure that issues are addressed when needed. This project will repair and/ or replace:

  • concrete abutments and wingwalls
  • the east end bridge diaphragm
  • finger joints with modular joints
  • the east approach and east abutment
  • bridge barrier and deck edge
  • guardrail and handrail
  • asphalt of the bridge approaches
Detail of bridge abutment and girder face damage to US-26 Swan Valley Bridge over the South Fork of the Snake River.
Detail of damage at the east abutment of the US-26 Swan Valley Bridge.
US-26 Swan Valley Bridge finger joint at east abutment.
Detail of movement at the south end finger joint of US-26 Swan Valley Bridge.

Expect Delays

The more seams- or start and stop points- that bridge work entails, the more points of weakness are created, bringing the possibility that repairs won’t last as long as they should or even fail to begin with.

Planning and design efforts originally sought to ensure that traffic would be able to flow in both directions across the bridge during construction. As state bridge experts evaluated the extent of needed repairs in further detail, it was determined that that would in fact not be possible in order to avoid too many seams and complete the work successfully.

US-26 Swan Valley Bridge over the South Fork of the Snake River in Idaho, facing west in late summer.

This reality does make it so that only one lane of travel will be open and a temporary signal put in place. ITD understands that traffic delays are unfortunate on this particular route where no alternate detour exists. The temporary signal will have detection capability, limiting delays to the greatest degree possible. Thank you for your patience as traffic increases during commuter times and weekends!

Timeline

Work will begin in the spring and conclude by winter of 2027-28, weather dependent.

Contact

Project Manager Rob Smith (208) 745-5663 or robert.smith@itd.idaho.gov.

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