SANDPOINT — The Merrit Bridge is fixed and open for business. 

The news follows county officials lifting weight restrictions after working to adequately fix and address safety issues on the Wisconsin Street Bridge, also known as the Merrit Bridge, Road and Bridge officials said Wednesday.  

Restrictions have been in place on the bridge since Aug. 25, when construction started to fix two support pilings of the bridge that appeared to have significant damage.

“The bridge no longer has any restrictions. Thank you for your patience while these repairs were being done,” Road and Bridge director Jason Topp said. 

The department first became aware of the structural failures by way of an underwater inspection, where two support pilings were found to be compromised, one being completely sheared through and the other with cracks. Upon these findings, the road and bridge department sought a declaration of emergency from Bonner County to restrict, or close, the bridge as necessary until repairs could be made.   

The declaration was approved unanimously by county commissioners during an Aug. 11 business meeting.   

When repairs started on the bridge Aug. 25, the bridge was closed to truck traffic and restricted to one lane through the damaged area of the bridge. At that time, a weight limit was posted for vehicles over six tons, and any one-axle vehicles were not to exceed 3.1 tons, or 6,200 pounds.  

In addition to the emergency repairs, the department said the bridge was the recipient of a 2023 federal-aid bridge grant, which should preserve the bridge and extend its life. Construction on that project is estimated to begin in 2027.