Rock Creek Bridge open for use

Matt Unrau

It’s been two years since the Rock Creek Bridge along Thompson River Road has been usable. The bridge has been out of commission ever since it was blocked by debris from the Chippy Creek Fire in 2007 that caused a partial washout in 2008. Beside the debris, the twin culverts that held the bridge together were under constant threat of being washed out(it had happened twice before in the last 15 years).

But, now the bridge stands stronger than before and open to traffic thanks to ARRA(American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) money given to the Lolo National Forest and steady work from the Sanders County Road Department. The work started in late August and wrapped up with signs and guard rails two weeks ago.

“This will be a lifetime bridge,” says Roger Mallery, road foreman for the Sanders County Road Department. Tom Peterson, also with the road department, said it would take an incredible 500 year event to wash out the new bridge, which now lies higher than the land around it.

For the two years that the road was out of commission, people looking for access, all the way up Thompson River, had to take another route on the ACM road, which tacked on about 10 more miles. Now, at least with two bridges access up the Thompson River is secure says Tom Peterson with the Sanders County Road Department.

“If we were to lose that road we wouldn’t have access all the way up the Thompson River,” says Peterson.

As they finished the road a logging truck crossed the bridge. Peterson says the main users of the bridge will come from the logging company up the river, which now can save time and money hauling their shorter routes across the bridge.

But, without the interest of the National Forest, the money would’ve never been available through the ARRA funds. Mallery credits Sue Colyer as crucial for getting the funds available. “If it hadn’t been for her it probably wouldn’t have happened,” says Mallery.

A bridge accomplishes three things for the forest service: providing a fish passage with a bridge that will not inhibit the creek, reduce sediment washing down stream with future washouts and providing access to the forest’s recreational sites up Thompson River.

The most notable recreational site is the Bend Guard Station, a recreation rental cabin on the Plains/Thompson Falls Ranger District.

The bridge so far has cost about $100,000 leaving approximately $120,000 left to improve the road system on either side of the bridge. This will include clearing vegetation and putting crushed gravel down. Peterson says they will be hiring five to six local contractors for the project, which will aid the county economy especially in the current economic environment. “We’re trying to generate some(county) work with this money,” says Peterson.