Engineers check bridge

Engineers for the city and state Department of Transportation checked out the S. Main bridge in Colfax at an early morning meeting today. The city and state have been advancing a plan to provide improved ramp access to the south end of the bridge.

The bridge ramp project has been under study since the city received a petitions from Roy O’Neill who uses a motorized wheelchair to get around town. O’Neill has actually rolled his wheelchair off the present sidewalk ramp and landed on Main Street at the end of the bridge.

City Administrator Carl Thompson and Erik Coates, consulting engineer from Moscow, met this morning with district DOT engineers from Spokane. Thompson said the state had been considering building an approach ramp out of aluminum to reduce the weight load. After today’s session, the plan could go to the use of a galvanized steel structure. Engineers believe the steel, which isn’t that much heavier than aluminum, would be more durable.

Thompson said at this time funds for the project have not been authorized.