Construction will begin July 7 to replace the Cow Creek Bridge on the Dug Bar Road north of Imnaha. The Dug Bar Road will be closed at the Cow Creek Trailhead, adjacent to the Imnaha River Bridge.

“Construction is expected to be completed by July 17 and the road will be reopened to the public,” said Mary DeAguero, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area Ranger.

Signs are posted at Fence Creek and the Imnaha River Bridge notifying local residents and others using the road of the upcoming closure.

Henderson Logging of Wallowa will be doing the construction.

The existing bridge was built in 1951 and currently has a 5-ton load limit.

When the new bridge is in place, the load limit will be increased to that for standard highway legal loads.