County officials expect to put off construction on a new Hospital Road bridge until 2016.
The county initially expected to kick off its eight-bridge construction program with the Hospital Road project this spring. With delays in acquiring the final two needed properties, though, construction on the Hospital Road project will likely start in May or June of 2016, said Arman Nazemi, a public works official for the county.
The $10 million project will replace the low-water crossing washed away 17 years ago. The federal government will fund 100 percent of the costs including the latest $7,500 addition to a consultant’s contract, approved by county supervisors last week, for property acquisition services. The county has acquired four of the six needed properties for the project and maintains the right to use eminent domain if needed.
“We are trying to wrap up the remaining property owners,” Nazemi said.
Although county officials were hoping to start construction this year, the amount of work left before breaking ground—including acquisitions and a month-long bidding process—is likely to push off construction until next year, Nazemi said. Generally, this type of construction window would be mid-April to mid-October.
It would be the first of eight bridge replacement projects throughout the county. Others include bridges at Union Road, Panoche Road, Rosa Marada Road, Rocks Road, Limekiln Road, Anzar Road and Panoche Road.
Union Road would be the next in line after Hospital Road’s project. It is in the acquisition phase as well. Officials hope to start construction on the Union Road bridge replacement in 2016 or 2017, Nazemi said. The $20 million project will include an 88.5 percent match from the federal government.
