CALTRANS EXPLAINS REPAIRS, CLOSURES
It could take 15 years to replace span called ‘Queen’
All chairs were full in a Ferndale town hall last night. Others lined the walls, filling city hall.
Representatives from Caltrans presented the status of repairs on Fernbridge to residents and stakeholders. This is the first meeting between Caltrans and the public since the December earthquake and aftershocks.
Caltrans proposed two upcoming closures of the bridge, currently under traffic control that allows one-way flow. The closures will allow the contractors, Myers & Associates, to get significant repair work done.
“The first 10-hour closure will allow crews to replace and move some bridge falsework in order to facilitate further repairs. This closure will move forward rain or shine,” said Myles Cochrane, Caltrans spokesperson in an email.
The bridge will be closed to all motorists overnight from 10 p.m. Friday to 8 a.m. Saturday.
Motorists have generally been using Blue Slide Road to access Highway 101 as an alternative to Fernbridge, a county road that adds travel time.
The second closure would be longer, spanning more than 55 hours. This closure is subject to weather and might change. This closure is proposed to start the evening of March 17 and end at 5 a.m. March 20.
“The second 55-hour, longer closure will allow crews to partially replace the bridge’s deck, repair abutments, repair columns and conduct paving,” said Cochrane.
Caltrans hopes to open the historic bridge to two-way traffic after the 55-hour closure, proposed the morning of March 20.
“Enacting these closures will shorten the timeframe that oneway traffic control will be in effect in the area by at least a month,” said Cochrane. Bridge repairs can be made much quicker and more intensively when traffic is halted.
“People realize that they’ve been working really hard to be able to open that up,” said Ferndale City Manager Jay Parrish.
He noted residents were interested, respectful and asked relevant questions.
“We’re lucky we have a second route,” he said.
Caltrans also discussed the future of access to Ferndale. Caltrans estimates it would take 9-15 years to construct a second bridge over the river.
The bridge averages 7,000
motorists a day. Some concern was noted by the public about moving that traffic to Blue Slide Road.
“Long-term, everything is on the table,” said Parrish.
Caltrans will host future meetings on Fernbridge.
“We’re just letting people know what is going to be happening, what their thoughts are so far, and that we are at the beginning of community dialogue,” said Parrish.