These Were the 9 Bridge Design Options for the Rainbow Bridge Replacement in Idaho

Idaho is a beautiful state filled with rivers, mountains, valleys, and bridges to get around all of it. The Perrine Bridge in Twin Falls might be the most famous of all the Idaho bridges, but an old and crumbling bridge is getting a lot of attention right now.

The Rainbow Bridge in Southern Idaho is being replaced with a new, modern bridge, and the proposed design options are raising concerns, questions, and hilarious comments from the community.

Out of Nine Options, This Has Been Chosen as the Final Design for a New Southern Idaho Bridge

The Idaho Transportation Department originally shared nine bridge design options in 2025 and narrowed them down to a final four. Meeting notes from the online public meeting revealed that Option 6, a multi-spandrel Art Deco arch, will be the bridge built to cross the Payette River and replace the current Rainbow Bridge, constructed in the 1930s.

You can see all the bridge designs below, but the final choice has some people thinking about food, and if you don’t think McDonald’s when you see the bridge arches, you don’t get out enough.

A pair of golden arches at the right angle looks like a McDonald’s-sponsored bridge design. But, KIVI Idaho News 6 pointed out that the arches won’t be painted as they appear in the renderings, but will instead be weathered steel. So, they won’t be painted to look like the restaurant's golden arches, but over time, they could look that way, naturally.

ITD also shared that the final bridge plan isn’t available yet as they consider adjusting the angle of the arches, railing types and designs (the 5 options can be seen HERE), removing piers from the design, and ways to honor the original Rainbow Bridge.

Another feature that will be created with the new bridge is new retaining walls along the mountain. The wall also comes with a variety of design plans and artwork for the seven sections of the wall. Some people are concerned that an artwork bridge like the design could be an additional distraction and danger as drivers come around the corner of the mountain.

KTVB reported that the bridge, which will be built along SH55 across the Payette River south of Cascade, could cost $65 million. What do you think of the new bridge? Are you ba-da-ba-ba-ba lovin’ it?