The Long Bridge pedestrian span over Lake Pend Oreille in Sandpoint has been closed since early June 2026 after an inspection by the Idaho Transportation Department found serious deterioration in the structure’s support systems. The closure is classified as indefinite while a stability investigation continues, leaving frequent walkers, cyclists, and commuters without one of the area’s most-used non-motorized routes.
The bridge has a long history in Bonner County. Built in 1956, it served vehicle traffic until 1981, when it was closed to cars and became a pedestrian and non-motorized corridor. For decades since, it has been a defining feature of daily life around Sandpoint and Lake Pend Oreille.
Project 7B Gathers Community Data
In response to the closure, Project 7B — a Bonner County nonprofit focused on responsible land use — launched a community survey aimed at capturing how residents actually use the pedestrian bridge and how its sudden closure is affecting daily routines. The survey runs through Tuesday, July 7, 2026.
Project 7B Board Member Susan Drumheller said the survey was designed to let usage patterns speak for themselves rather than advocate for a predetermined outcome. “A survey is a way of collecting information in a less biased way so we can share that with the ITD, instead of predetermining what the demand is,” she said.
The organization plans to compile results and deliver them directly to ITD officials as well as to Bonner County and City of Sandpoint leadership. With nearly 400 respondents already recorded as of the survey’s initial data snapshot, preliminary results paint a clear picture of how heavily the bridge is used.
About 30 percent of respondents reported using the pedestrian bridge multiple times per week, while another 21 percent said they access it weekly during the warmer months. Only 10 percent indicated they had never used the path at all. The survey also asks respondents whether Selkirks Pend Oreille Transit bus service provides an adequate alternative for those who relied on the bridge for commuting or regular travel.
One respondent captured a widely shared sentiment, describing the pedestrian span as “the heart of the area” — language that reflects how deeply the structure is embedded in community identity around Sandpoint.
ITD Opens Public Comment Process in July
The Idaho Transportation Department is setting up its own formal public engagement process. An online comment portal is scheduled to launch Wednesday, July 1, 2026, giving residents a direct channel to submit input to state transportation planners as they assess the bridge’s condition and long-term future.
The ITD Board is also scheduled to meet in Coeur d’Alene on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, running from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. That meeting will likely be an important venue for community concerns to be heard at the state level, and Project 7B’s compiled survey data is expected to be distributed ahead of or during that process.
The Sandpoint area has seen a number of infrastructure and community planning decisions drawing close public attention in recent months. Local government budgeting and oversight have also been under scrutiny, as seen in ongoing discussions at the Panhandle Health District, which recently approved its FY 2027 budget after extended deliberation.
What Comes Next
Residents who want to participate in the Project 7B community survey have until July 7 to submit responses. The ITD’s online comment portal opens July 1, offering another avenue for public input directly to state transportation officials. The ITD Board meeting on July 15 in Coeur d’Alene is the next major decision-making milestone at the state level.
Project 7B’s survey results will be shared with both ITD and local elected officials, making the coming weeks a critical window for Bonner County residents who want their voice reflected in whatever outcome the state ultimately reaches on the Long Bridge pedestrian span.