Veterans Memorial Centennial Bridge

Veterans Memorial Centennial Bridge
View of the bridge from East Coeur d'Alene Lake Drive, looking from the west.
Coordinates	47°38′51″N 116°42′52″W
Carries	I-90
Crosses	Bennett Bay
Locale	Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
Other name(s)	Bennett Bay Centennial Bridge
Maintained by	Idaho Transportation Department
Characteristics
Design	Box girder bridge
Total length	1,729 ft (527 m)
Width	70 ft (21 m)
Height	299 ft (91 m)
No. of lanes	4 (2 per direction)
History
Construction end	1991
Construction cost	$16 million
Opened	1992
Location

The Veterans Memorial Centennial Bridge (formerly known as the Bennett Bay Centennial Bridge) is a freeway bridge in Idaho. The bridge carries Interstate 90 over a valley above Bennett Bay, an arm of Lake Coeur d'Alene.

Construction of the bridge began in 1988 and used a balanced cantilever to build sections at an average rate of 16 feet (4.9 m) a week.[1][2] It was completed in 1991 and opened the following year as part of the last major project to complete Interstate 90 east of Coeur d'Alene, at a cost of $16 million.[3]

The bridge was initially named the Bennett Bay Centennial Bridge, to commemorate the centennial of Idaho, despite a long-standing state policy against adopting official bridge names.[4][5] In 1992, the bridge was renamed the Veterans Memorial Centennial Bridge, in honor of Idaho's military veterans.

The bridge is a segmental concrete box girder bridge; it is 1,730 ft (530 m) long, 70 ft (21 m) wide, and carries four traffic lanes 300 ft (91 m) above the valley floor.[6] It was designed by HNTB.[7]

References

1. Bender, David (July 10, 1988). "Effort continues to complete I-90". The Spokesman-Review. pp. B1, B6. Retrieved August 26, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
2. McBride, Kelly (June 26, 1989). "I-90 span a growing spectacle". Spokane Chronicle. p. A3. Retrieved August 26, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
3. Foster, J. Todd (July 4, 1992). "New I-90 stretch offers scenery, safety". The Spokesman-Review. p. A1. Retrieved August 26, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "Bennett Bay span named for state's 100th birthday". The Spokesman-Review. July 6, 1990. p. B3. Retrieved August 26, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
5. Miller, Dean (January 23, 1992). "Veterans want span to honor U.S. soldiers". The Spokesman-Review (Idaho ed.). p. B1. Retrieved August 26, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Bridge Statistics: Veterans Memorial Centennial Bridge". University of Minnesota. Archived from the original on September 27, 2004. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
7. "Building Big: Veterans Memorial Centennial Bridge". Idaho Transportation Department. Archived from the original on February 4, 2012. Retrieved August 26, 2021.