Armed with a new coat of protective paint, the Biggs Rapids-Sam Hill Bridge on Highway 97 is ready, a year early, for the harsh winter conditions of the Gorge.  The bridge painting project began last fall and was scheduled to take two years to complete, but by working seven days a week with mild weather conditions, Intech Contracting finished this month.  Spanning the Columbia River, the Biggs Rapids-Sam Hill Bridge was built in 1962 and carries approximately 5,600 vehicles a day between Maryhill and Biggs Junction.  The bridge was last painted in 1988 and this new coat should last the next 20 years.  The $8.8 million project was funded by a federal preservation program.