GARDEN CITY — Work is expected to get under way later this year on a Greenbelt pedestrian bridge that was removed during record-high Boise River flows last year.
The Plantation Bridge in Garden City was removed after the devastating flooding in the spring of 2017. Thanks to a FEMA grant, work is being planned to get the bridge back in place on the Greenbelt.
"The water was eroding the Greenbelt and the security issue for the bridge itself was that it could fall into the river and float down and hit the Glenwood Bridge," said Stephanie Hilding, treasurer for the Idaho Foundation for Parks and Lands.
A private nonprofit, IFPL owns the bridge along with Plantation Island and another bridge. Hilding says they have been waiting for FEMA funding to make things right again.
"We've just qualified for that," Hilding said.
The original bridge was not seriously damaged, so it will be reused. It's currently sitting about 100 feet away waiting to be put in place. Hilding says an engineer has inspected the bridge and says it's in good shape.
Unfortunately, work has to wait until the winter.
"The water flows need to be at their lowest," Hilding said. "400 CFS is what we need so we just have to wait."
The hope is, construction will start in December and be wrapped up in January. Many Greenbelt users, like Tyler Thomas, say they're excited the Plantation Bridge will be back.
"There's no stoplights, no cars turning, you never stop," he said.
Thomas commutes from Eagle to Boise and looks forward to fewer detours and a more peaceful ride.
"It will make me so happy," he said. "I can't wait."
The Idaho Foundation for Parks and Lands does need some help from the community to make sure the bridge work is completed. The project will cost about $200,000. FEMA is not covering $75,000 of that cost so the non-profit is asking anyone who loves the Greenbelt to contribute here.