Project started to replace the McElroy Coulee bridge

Katie Teachout, The Journal | Last updated Mar 30, 2021 10:24am0

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Shamrock Paving Inc./Murphy Brothers was awarded the contract to replace the McElroy Coulee bridge south of Ritzville on Highway 261. Pictured working on the project March 25, from left, are Kevin Burg from Shamrock Paving, Dusty Thompson from Barnhart Crane, and Hayden Kapiko and Austin Floener with Shamrock Paving.

RITZVILLE – The dilapidated McElroy Coulee Bridge south of Ritzville on Highway 261 is getting replaced.

The bridge is located at milepost 57.7, at the junction of Leisle Road and Highway 261, in between Harder Road to the north and Franz Road to the south.

The contract was awarded to Shamrock Paving Inc./Murphy Brothers of Spokane, who began the project March 8.

"The project is ahead of schedule and on budget," Project Superintendent Randy Wicks said.

According to Department of Transportation documents, the current bridge became structurally deficient and plans were made to replace it with a new box culvert, a cost effective option for building and maintaining the bridge. A temporary detour was set up along the highway, a single lane with alternating traffic utilizing stop signs for both directions.

Wick said they began the project with demo of the existing bridge, then re-grading the channel and setting the new pre-cast box culvert. Wicks said he expects the work to be fully complete April 30.

"According to state records, the bridge was installed around 1904," Wicks said.

Total cost of the project is $627,471.

Author Bio

Katie Teachout, Editor

Katie Teachout is the editor of The Ritzville Adams County Journal. Previously, she worked as a reporter at The Omak-Okanogan County Chronicle, the Oroville Gazette-Tribune, Northern Kittitas County Tribune and the Methow Valley News. She is a graduate of Western Washington University.