Project 7B soliciting input on pedestrian Long Bridge closure
June 26, 2026
By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff
Following the closure of the Long Bridge pedestrian bridge in early June, nonprofit organization Project 7B, which advocates for responsible land use in Bonner County, has launched a community survey seeking information on how residents use — or want to use — the non-motorized span across Lake Pend Oreille.
“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,” Project 7B Board Member Susan Drumheller stated.
The survey will run until Tuesday, July 7 and is available at bit.ly/LongBridgeSurvey.
According to Project 7B, no official study has yet been conducted to assess the impact of this closure and, though ITD is planning to launch a public comment period with an online portal that goes live on Wednesday, July 1.
Barricades and a chain-link fence placed by ITD denoting the closure of the non-motorized portion of the Long Bridge, along with a sign and flowers placed by a community member. Photo by Soncirey Mitchell
The ITD Board will also meet in Coeur d’Alene on Wednesday, July 15 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Project 7B will then distribute the survey results to ITD officials as well as local county and city officials.
The Idaho Transportation Department blocked access to the pedestrian bridge following an inspection that revealed serious deterioration of the support structures undergirding the deck of the bridge, which was built in 1956 and closed to vehicle use in 1981 with construction of the current Long Bridge.
The closure is so far “indefinite,” pending further investigation of its stability, but has for decades served as a connecting point for residents either as a commuter route or recreational amenity.
Project 7B asks generally how the pedestrian bridge closure is affecting community members, followed by specific questions related to why, when and how often they use the structure. In addition, the survey queries whether the recently established north-south Selkirks Pend Oreille Transit bus service across the vehicle bridge is an adequate solution to the lack of connectivity resulting from the pedestrian bridge closure.
Project 7B reported that nearly 400 people have taken the survey as of press time, and indicated that 30% of them use the pedestrian bridge “multiple times per week,” while 21% said they accessed the pathway weekly during the warmer months.
“Only 10% of respondents thus far have never used the path,” Project 7B stated in a news release. “Many respondents noted that closing the path makes traffic and parking worse, which is bad both for the city of Sandpoint and for private businesses.”
According to Project 7B, one commenter stated that the pedestrian bridge “feels like the heart of the area — the water and boats passing below, trains and cars bustling back and forth on each side, eagles and airplanes soaring overhead, the sunlight tracking through the sky. I love the energy and connection I feel when standing on the bridge, and it inspires me to be part of this community.”
For more info on Project 7B, go to project7b.org.
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