Boulder Creek Bridge Scour Repair Project

Project Description

The project is in Santa Cruz County on State Route 236 at Boulder Creek Bridge (post mile 4.27) in the census-designated town of Boulder Creek. In this location, State Route 236 is a conventional two-lane, undivided highway. Boulder Creek Bridge was constructed in 1926 as a small, single-span reinforced concrete girder bridge on top of reinforced concrete abutments and wing walls with concrete bridge railing. Boulder Creek Bridge is a single-span bridge with no piers located in the creek. The existing bridge is about 22 feet long and 24 feet wide. Each travel lane is 11 feet wide with 1-foot shoulders.

Bridge scour is the erosion of sediment from around bridge abutments or piers. Scour, caused by swift-moving water, can scoop out scour holes, compromising the integrity of a structure. Water flowing in Boulder Creek has contributed to scour along Abutment 1, specifically on the northern end of the abutment upstream of Boulder Creek.

The proposed work would include the placement of a 1.5-foot-thick and 6-foot-high reinforced concrete curtain wall along the full length of the existing Abutment 1 spread footing, which is about 27 feet long. The top of the proposed curtain wall would match the current elevation of the existing top of the Abutment 1 footing. The curtain wall will wrap around the upstream (northern) side of the abutment to protect the concrete from erosion. Additionally, cracks and defects in the existing concrete on the underside of the bridge at Abutment 1 would be patched.

 

project vicinity map 

 

Project Benefits

Purpose

The purpose of this project is to:

  • Prevent further scour damage at the Abutment 1 spread footing.
  • Restore the bridge structure to a state of good repair to reduce required ongoing maintenance.
  • Protect Abutment 1 footing from severe scour caused by continued lateral bank erosion.

Need

This project is needed to address the following:

  • Scour at the Abutment 1 embankment has been identified as a critical issue requiring repair to protect the bridge structure and public safety.
  • Minimize future maintenance expenditures.
  • Protect the bridge asset by upgrading erosion control features.

 

Estimated Funding Breakdown

Funding Source Funding Amount
State $2,050,000 funding allocated
Construction Cost $1,250,000

 

Proposed Project Schedule

Process Date
Final environmental document to be completed Summer 2024
Right-of-way acquisition to be completed Summer 2025
Design to be completed Summer 2025
Advertise Fall 2025
Construction to begin Summer 2026
Construction to be completed Summer 2026

 

Project Contact

Dianna Beck, Senior Environmental Planner
Phone: (805) 459-9406
Email:dianna.beck@dot.ca.gov

Chad Stoehr, Project Manager
Phone: (805) 500-0713
Email: chad.stoehr@dot.ca.gov

Public Information Office, Caltrans District 5
Phone: (805) 549-3318
Email: info-d5@dot.ca.gov

 

Documents

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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.

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