SANDPOINT — Safety measures on the Long Bridge are repeatedly being vandalized, Idaho Transportation Department officials said. If it continues, ITD officials said they could be forced to shut down pedestrian access until repairs are complete.

The warning follows the partial closure of some areas on the iconic pedestrian bridge after ITD engineers found issues with the support structures, raising concerns about the bridge’s ability to handle weight loads. Heather McDaniel, public information officer for ITD, said that crews have already had to reestablish the blockades three times since they were installed Friday. 

“Staying anywhere outside of those restricted areas means it's perfectly safe for everyone to keep using the bridge,” McDaniel said. “That's the concerning part is when we've got people that are going out there and intentionally taking down that traffic control, obviously they're jeopardizing not only their own safety, but that of everybody else.” 

McDaniel said ITD does not want to close pedestrian access, but that the department cannot let ongoing safety issues continue as crews work to figure out what’s wrong with the bridge. 

“These are absolutely necessary things that are being set up, and they're there for a reason,” McDaniel said. "We're hoping that by bringing a little bit of awareness to the situation that's going on, people will understand... and we can use the bridge to the best of its ability until we get it fully repaired, rather than having to make those decisions.” 

McDaniel said ITD is looking into increasing the immovability of the barriers, but because weight is a concern on the bridge, ITD is unable to use heavier blockades, like concrete barriers. 

“Obviously, it's going to be a lot more difficult for people to tamper with a concrete barrier, but ironically, it's the weight of anything out there on the bridge that's giving us reason for concern right now,” McDaniel said. “So, we're not able to use those more robust items, and we're kind of having to stick to the lighter, more mobile things.” 

McDaniel said that continued use of these restricted areas could cause additional damage, lengthening the timeline for repairs. She said that ITD is coordinating with local and state law enforcement to potentially bring more patrol awareness to the bridge. 

“If those zones aren't there, people won't have an idea that they need to stay away from particular areas, because from the top of the bridge looking at the surface, you would have no idea what's going on beneath there, right?” McDaniel said. “That's why it's really important for us to have those areas very visibly highlighted and restricted for people to stay off of them.”