By then, there could be additional problems, including possible delays related to the Endangered Species Act, he said, adding the longer the bridge project is put off the more it will cost. Construction bids were scheduled to be opened yesterday, April 28, by county commissioners. There already is a window of time when work can be done in the river. Tonasket is going to take a hit with this issue no matter what. County commissioner Spence Higby, who also took the tour, said even with staged construction, school buses still wouldn't be able to use the bridge.
Time is of the essence.
It depends on when runoff ends and winter begins. The construction will take six to nine months. Sump explained that some of the issues were really supplemental budget problems and that he would take these issues back to Rep. Cathy McMorris, R-Colville, and state transportation secretary Sid Morrison and together they would see what could be done. About 21 Tonasket-area residents, along with Sump and Higby boarded a school bus at Whistler's restaurant and headed to the bridge. The bus, driven by Tonasket school bus driver Barb Ayers, headed north to the Ellisforde bridge, out of the way for the five bus routes which normally cross the downtown bridge to pick up and deliver children.