WALLACE — Shoshone County Commissioners recently agreed to amend an easement agreement between the county and Buell Bros. Incorporated, which will allow them to replace a bridge over Elk Creek along Potlatch Road. 

Shoshone County has roughly 100 feet of right-of-way near the project site, but that doesn’t allow enough room to install the temporary bridge needed to allow traffic to flow while the project is completed. 

The two changes to the agreement were the time frame of the easement and an additional clause that allows the county more flexibility for adding jersey barriers to deter traffic through the private property.  

“We’re just thankful that we were able to enter into this temporary easement with the property owner,” Shoshone County Public Works Director Jessica Stutzke said.  

According to previous reports, the project was originally expected to be completed by the end of October, but according to Shoshone County Prosecutor Ben Allen, that timeframe has been pushed back. Because of this needed extension, the property owner has concerns about the public accessing private property.  

As part of the agreement, the county will restore the property after the project’s completion, including the removal of the temporary bridge and the obliteration of the temporary easement road.

The Elk Creek Trestle is being replaced through the Leading Idaho Local Bridge Program and is 100% funded with no match by the county.