Local history groups ask state to seek new solutions to save Rainbow Bridge
Local history leaders are calling upon the state government to preserve an Idaho landmark.
Groups — including Preservation Idaho, the Historic Bridge Foundation, Idaho Conservation League, Idaho Rivers United, Ada County and Twin Falls County Historic Preservation Commissions and Council Valley Museum — released a statement Friday asking the Idaho Transportation Department to find a way to save the historic Rainbow Bridge.
Located over the Payette River on Idaho 55 about an hour south of McCall, the bridge, which opened in 1933, is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
The transportation department has said the bridge is becoming increasingly unsafe and it has begun plans to tear down the bridge and replace it with a new one just to the west of the original.
Experts determined that, with the historic bridge’s “extensive” deterioration and “significant and widespread” corrosion, keeping it would “require a significant effort” and between $20 to $50 million in investments, the department said.
“While the coalition does not oppose construction of a new bridge upstream, it rejects the assertion that no viable preservation options exist for the historic structure,” the coalition of local history groups said in a statement.
The coalition listed several requests for the transportation department, including to provide detailed structural analyses by engineers experienced in historic bridge rehabilitation to support claims that preservation is infeasible. Also:
- Fully evaluate alternatives, including long-term retention in place as a tourist attraction and point of interest.
- Clarify the timeline for required federal review and consultation.
- Hold an open public meeting in Valley County in 2026 to ensure broader community engagement.
- Meet with the coalition to discuss preservation solutions.
“The Rainbow Bridge is more than a crossing,” the coalition stated. “It is a lasting symbol of Idaho’s history and identity. We urge ITD to work with us to ensure the preservation of Rainbow Bridge for future generations.”
