An approximately $18 million construction contract has been awarded by the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday for the seismic retrofit of the Wohler Road Bridge over the Russian River in Sonoma County, Calif.
The bridge, which was originally built in 1922, will receive a new lightweight concrete deck, seismic isolation bearings and joints, steel truss reinforcement, and foundation reinforcement.
County officials designed the project to meet state requirements while preserving the architectural appeal of the bridge.
"Countless stakeholders need to be recognized for getting this project to the construction phase – from the Wohler Bridge Neighborhood Association to the utility companies and partner agencies at the state level, to our dedicated team of engineers and officials at the Department of Public Infrastructure," said District 5 Supervisor Lynda Hopkins.
"The extensive environmental, geotechnical, hydraulic, and hydrologic studies, complex negotiations for utility coordination, architectural study and planning have all taken patience and perseverance," Hopkins said. "I applaud and thank you and look forward to the grand re-opening of this iconic Sonoma County landmark."
After
the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) approved the project last year,
the Federal Highway Bridge Program committed to funding the entirety of the project cost, which is expected to be just under $18 million.
The seismic retrofit meets current Caltrans and
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) design criteria and mitigates the risk of collapse during an earthquake.
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Source: MSN.com
