JACKSON, Wyo — Swinging Bridge is set to close for over a year and a half starting Monday, Oct. 23, the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) announced Tuesday.

WYDOT and contract crews from Reiman Corp. will be replacing Swinging Bridge, with completion expected by June 30, 2025. Reiman Corp. was the only contractor to bid on the project, estimating it to cost about $10.3 million.

The current bridge will be demolished and replaced. The project is part of WYDOT’s Bridge Replacement Off System (BROS) program. The BROS program is a federally funded program to reduce the number of deficient off-system bridges. It applies to bridges owned by cities, towns and counties, located on a non-federal aid roadway. Once the new bridge has been constructed by WYDOT, Teton County will be responsible for maintenance moving forward.

Residents and drivers needing to access the area can detour on Henry’s Road, Teton County Road 22-45, which intersects US 26/89/189/191 south of the bridge, WYDOT says. Residents in the area will still be able to access their homes and businesses through the detour on Henry’s Road.

Photo: WYDOT

According to a historical investigation report from the Teton Historic Preservation Board, the first swinging bridge was built in 1938. It was replaced by the current bridge in 1960, just a short distance downstream. The new bridge was constructed using parts of the first Wilson Bridge, a five-span truss bridge built in 1915 and replaced in 1959. Three of the five spans of the first Wilson Bridge were used. Attempts to preserve the bridge over the years have all failed.

Lindsay is a contributing reporter covering a little bit of everything; with an interest in local policies and politics, the environment and amplifying community voices. She's curious about uncovering the "whys" of our region and aims to inform the community about the issues that matter. In her free time, you can find her snowboarding, cooking or planning the next surf trip.