SANDPOINT — With a week under its wheels, a partnership to shuttle community residents back and forth across the Long Bridge is rolling along.

"SPOT Bus is working with ITD to maintain a critical connection for pedestrians and bicyclists affected by the closure," said Donna Griffin, Selkirks-Pend Oreille Transit Authority executive director. "… Service is provided at no cost and is available to the general public."

The shuttle is the result of a partnership between the Idaho Transportation Department and Selkirk Pend Oreille Transit Authority (SPOT Bus) to provide temporary transit service across the Long Bridge while the pedestrian bridge remains closed.

The temporary transit service comes as ITD works to assess the Long Bridge pedestrian structure and develop a plan for restoring end-to-end public access. At this time, a reopening date has not been established. The ongoing closure is necessary to ensure the safety of both the community and the bridge itself.

Safety concerns over the pedestrian Long Bridge prompted ITD to close the structure on June 5, saying a recent inspection found significant structural deterioration affecting critical parts of the bridge. Until repairs are made, experts said the damaged areas could no longer safely accommodate public access.

In announcing the closure, ITD was working to finish inspecting the pedestrian bridge, a necessary start to crafting a timeline for reopening the structure. Repairs are expected to be significant, ITD Public Information Officer Heather McDaniel said previously.

Those repairs could take longer because of weight concerns on the pedestrian bridge, which will limit how much equipment ITD can have on the bridge.

The department closed parts of the pedestrian Long Bridge in May. A study to explore the replacement of both bridges is underway, but construction has yet to be funded, ITD said.

Shortly after the pedestrian bridge was closed, SPOT Bus officials reached out to ITD to offer a solution: a shuttle across the Long Bridge using the transit system's buses.

The service runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., completing a loop across the Long Bridge roughly every 30 minutes. Occasionally, SPOT officials said the shuttle may run late due to heavy traffic.

"Passengers can view the shuttle's location in real time through the SPOT Bus website, making it easier to plan trips and minimize wait times," Griffin said.

Griffin said SPOT is providing additional pick-up times during the week, including 7:30 a.m. south-to-north and at 10 a.m., south-to-north.

"SPOT Bus is working with ITD to maintain a critical connection for pedestrians and bicyclists affected by the closure," Griffin said.

The transit system's vehicles are ADA accessible and can accommodate a limited number of bicycles per trip. Service is provided at no cost and is available to the general public, Griffin said.

Griffin said those needing transportation across the bridge outside the posted schedule or stop locations are encouraged to contact SPOT directly to discuss possible arrangements. Residents can reach the transit system at 208-263-3774.

The importance of the pedestrian bridge to the community is not lost on the transportation department.

"We understand how important this bridge is to Sandpoint," District Engineer Ryan Hawkins said at the time. "For many residents, this bridge is more than a crossing. It's part of daily life, a connection between neighborhoods, a route to work and services, and an iconic part of the community. We recognize the impact this decision will have, and it is not one we take lightly."

    Cracking underneath the pedestrian Long Bridge.