West Branch Cherokee Creek Bridge
Project Description
The proposed project will demolish the current West Branch Cherokee Creek Bridge (Bridge #30-0036, Cherokee Bridge) and replace it with a new structure. The existing bridge is more than 80 years old, with a soffit elevation of 1,422.7 feet above mean sea level. The bridge structure is currently capable of accommodating 800 cubic feet per second of water flow. The guardrails do not meet current Caltrans standards and, although the structure currently has 12-foot-wide lanes, there are no shoulders along this area.
Project Benefits
Purpose and Need
The proposed bridge design will increase the soffit elevation by 4 feet (to 1,426.7 feet above mean sea level). This will require that the bridge span (length) increase to 31 feet and that the roadway on either end be elevated to match the bridge elevation. The new structure will pass 1,800 cubic feet per second of water flow and provide 2 feet of freeboard (distance from water surface to bottom of bridge soffit), allowing water-borne debris to pass through and prevent the bridge from failing.
Funding Source
The project is programmed in the 2018 State Highway Operation and Protection Program (SHOPP) and Senate Bill-1 (SB1) under the Bridge Rehabilitation Program in fiscal year 2021/22.
Project Cost/Programmed
| Process | Capital $ | Support $ |
|---|---|---|
| Project Approval & Environmental Document | $0 | $866,000 |
| Plans, Specifications, & Estimates | $0 | $1,530,000* |
| Right of Way | $278,000 | $281,000 |
| Construction | $5,786,000 | $1,500,000 |
| Projected Cost as of (June 6, 2022) | Planned $ | Expended $ |
|---|---|---|
| Project Approval & Environmental Document | $866,000 | $803,000 |
| Plans, Specifications, & Estimates | $1,830,000 | $1,662,000 |
| Right of Way Support | $281,000 | $232,000 |
| Construction Support | $1,500,000 | $0 |
*plus $300,000 contribution from the County
Current Schedule
| Process | Date |
|---|---|
| Project Study Report (M010) | Spring 2017 |
| Project Approval & Environmental Document (M200) | Winter 2019 |
| Right of Way Certification (M410) | Spring 2022 |
| Ready to List (M460) | Spring 2022 |
| Approved Construction Contract (M500) | Winter 2022 |
| Project Completion (M600) | Summer 2024 |
Project Status
Project on schedule. In Design phase, Construction to start in December of 2022.
Project Contact
Public Information Office:
Phone: 209/948-7977
Email: District10PublicAffairs@dot.ca.gov
Documents
Initial Study with Negative Declaration - November 2019 (PDF) 3,000 KB
Title VI Information
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) assures that no person shall, on the basis of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance, as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, and Federal Executive Order 12898 (Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations).
Caltrans will make every effort to ensure nondiscrimination in all of its programs and activities, whether they are federally funded or not, and that services and benefits are fairly distributed to all people, regardless of race, color, or national origin. In addition, Caltrans will facilitate meaningful participation in the transportation planning process in a nondiscriminatory manner.