| Main Street Bridge over Pilarcitos Creek |
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The City Council, at its regular meeting on July 6, 2010, reviewed a report outlining the deficiencies of the existing Main Street Bridge over Pilarcitos Creek and authorized the staff to seek grant funds for the bridge replacement. The City has submitted an application for funds from the Federal Highway Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Program. If approved, the City will be reimbursed up to 88% of the cost of eligible work. The City will apply for other available grants also to minimize the City’s cost share. The total estimated cost of the bridge replacement, including the environmental and archeological reports, design and construction, is approximately $7.1 million. The Main Street Bridge was built in the first decade of 1900. Recent engineering evaluations by the City and Caltrans have determined the bridge safe for its continued use by vehicles and pedestrians but noted several deficiencies including its narrow width, several significant cracks and sufficiency rating of 30 on a scale of 1 to 100. Sufficiency ratings below 50 are considered serious enough to warrant replacement or major repairs. The Main Street Bridge is one of only two crossings over Pilarcitos Creek for traffic and water distribution system. Major damage to the Main Street Bridge during a calamity could severely impact traffic circulation, fire protection and water distribution in Half Moon Bay and its vicinity.The proposed replacement bridge would accommodate one vehicular lane, shoulder area for disabled vehicles and bicycles and wider sidewalks in each direction. The bridge would be built in two stages. Traffic will continue to use a portion of the existing bridge while the new bridge would be constructed. This would be a multi-year project. |