MCKENZIE BRIDGE, Oregon (STPNS) -- VIDA: Traffic will be blocked from traveling across the Goodpasture covered bridge in upcoming weeks. Two closures will be in effect on Wednesday night to Thursday morning on January 31st and again on February 7th. Both will run from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.

As in the past, a detour route for vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists will not be available during the bridge closures. Firefighting equipment and an emergency response vehicle will be parked on the south side of the bridge before it is closed. McKenzie Fire & Rescue has developed a response plan to address any medical or fire emergencies.



In the event of a medical emergency, the 911 dispatcher will contact emergency service providers and the onsite bridge inspector. In an emergency, work on the bridge will be stopped immediately and the construction zone stabilized to allow passage of emergency personnel. First responders will park on the north side of the bridge, walk across the bridge, and use the emergency response vehicle parked on the south side to get to the emergency. They will then transport the patient to the bridge where the ambulance will be waiting for them. If the call requires the use of a helicopter, one will be dispatched and land at one of two predetermined landing zones on the south side of the bridge.

In the event of a fire, the response will be a procedure similar. The fire district already has two fire apparatus parked on the south side of the bridge. A private owner is allowing them to use their property in order to reach Goodpasture Rd. It will however take several minutes to get there.

Lane County engineer Brad Lemhouse said he’d, “Like to thank McKenzie Fire and Rescue, Weyerhaeuser, Whitewater Ranch, the BLM, Jim Goodpasture, Conway Construction, and OBEC for their support, cooperation, and the extra effort while the closures are in effect.”

For more information, contact Lemhouse @ (541) 682-6928 or brad.lemhouse@co.lane.or.us.