After years of delay to replace the Southside Bridge at Tres
Pinos Creek, San Benito County Public Works has received
authorization to move forward on the $2.4-million project that will
ease traffic access to the southern portion of the county.
After years of delay to replace the Southside Bridge at Tres Pinos Creek, San Benito County Public Works has received authorization to move forward on the $2.4-million project that will ease traffic access to the southern portion of the county.
“When we have flooding events it is difficult to reach the southerly end. This was desperately in need of upgrading to provide access ability,” said Arman Nazemi, assistant director of public works.
The upgrade was needed because motorists traveling that particular route during flooding events are limited by the single-lane truss bridge and a low-water crossing.
The new bridge will be two lanes and 350-feet long and 32-feet wide with 4-foot-wide shoulders.
The bridge will be constructed northeast of the existing bridge. Also, the Thomas Road intersection will be moved north by 30 feet to 40 feet beyond the new alignment.
“It will enhance access ability to southerly properties of the Tres Pinos Creek,” Nazemi said.
Cost for the construction was estimated at $1.8 million and total costs should run about $2.4 million. So far, the county has paid $600,000 for preliminary engineering costs, design of the bridge and environmental studies.
Nazemi said 80 percent of the project was funded by the Federal Highway Administration’s Bridge Replacement Program. The county will pay the remaining 20 percent.
Public works said construction should last 150 days. When the new bridge is completed, the old bridge will be demolished and removed from the site. In the meantime, traffic will remain open on the existing bridge.
“We are glad that it finally went through,” Nazemi said. “We had a lot of hurdles to jump with Caltrans and other governing agencies.”
With channel restrictions recently set by the Department of Fish and Game, county public works has a window of opportunity to pour concrete and get out of the channel.
“We are trying to get a contract ASAP so we can begin right away because we will have to be out of channel by November 1,” Nazemi said.
If crews have not completed the channel, the county would wait until the rain season ends or ask for an extension from DFG, Nazemi said.
