The process for repairing and replacing bridges washed out by flooding in Lincoln County was expected to get underway this week, as federal, state and local agencies wrap up damage assessments.

Lincoln County officials planned to put out information requests to construction vendors on certain bridges beginning Dec. 22, said Nick Holloway, the public affairs officer for the All-Hazards Incident Command Team managing the state disaster in Libby.  

Officials have not determined which bridges will be prioritized for reconstruction. 

Finding available vendors to begin repairs, however, may be difficult, Holloway said. The region-wide impacts of an atmospheric storm that swept through the Pacific Northwest in mid-December — hitting Montana, Washington, Idaho and Oregon — could limit available contractors.   

“There’s not enough vendors to do all the work,” Holloway said. 

Emergency officials said at least nine bridges in Northwest Montana were washed out in the floods, with a majority of them located in Lincoln County. Initial damage assessments are completed, Holloway said, but are waiting to be validated by an engineer. 

County-owned infrastructure damages are in excess of $5 million for roads, bridges and culverts, Holloway said. These estimates do not include private, federal or state-owned properties within the county. 

The Montana Department of Transportation expects to receive funding from the Federal Highways Administration to repair Prospect Creek and Farm to Market bridges, according to Natalee Stout, a spokesperson for the Montana Department of Transportation. The state is required to provide a 13.42% match for federal funds. 

State and federal bridge inspection reports showed that three of the bridges washed out during the floods in Lincoln County were deemed to be in stable condition. Each bridge was under 75 years old, which is the average life span of a bridge, Stout said. 

Lake Creek bridge, which spanned over Keeler Creek, was 51 years old (built in 1974) and constructed out of corrugated steel, according to state reports. It had a stringer/multi-beam or girder structure, and averaged 100 daily trips. 

Lower Granite Creek bridge, which stretched across Big Cherry Creek, was made of prestressed concrete and had a tee beam structure. The bridge was built in 1977 and had 334 average daily trips.  

The Farm to Market Road bridge that spanned over Libby Creek was 63 years old (built in 1962) and also had a stringer/multi-beam or girder structure. The main span material was prestressed concrete and endured 999 average daily trips, according to the National Bridge Inventory. 

Inspection reports were not immediately available for the other six bridges that were washed out in the floods. Stout said inspections and load ratings are only available for state- and county-owned bridges spanning at least 20 feet across. 

Reporter Hannah Shields can be reached at 758-4439 or [email protected].