SANDPOINT — The elevation of the deck on the new BNSF Railway bridge across Lake Pend Oreille is raising questions about navigability.

The span that is extending off of Dog Beach is significantly lower than the existing railroad bridge.

“People are concerned about that but the existing deck is a temporary construction deck. It’s not the final construction at all,” said Serena Carlson, who gave a project update on behalf of BNSF during a remotely conducted Bonner County Area Transportation Team meeting on Wednesday.

Carlson is steering people with questions about the Sandpoint Junction Connector to keepsandpointrolling.com, a project website which has construction timelines, project updates and photos. Members of the public can also sign up to receive monthly text messages with project updates.

“That’s kind of your clearinghouse for information on that particular project,” said Carlson.

Carlson said the railroad is also offering to give project presentations to city councils, civic groups and other interested parties.

The new bridge across the lake will have a horizontal clearances of 93 feet and vertical clearances ranging from 14.6 feet to 15.5 feet, according to the project’s permit application with the U.S. Coast Guard.

Dave Suhr of David Evans & Associates said crews are currently connecting concrete pavement to the asphalt on U.S. Highway 95 and is urging motorists to be on the lookout for contractor crews who are working close to the flow of traffic.

“But just be mindful as you drive past the site — it’s signed and everything — but they are right up against live traffic,” said Suhr.

Suhr said that particular part of the project should be completed next week.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.