Boyes Boulevard Bridge halfway to completion

Cross-town traffic shut down but pedestrians can still reach their favorite haunts.|

The quiet Boyes Boulevard neighborhood next to Sonoma Creek has been quieter than usual this past year, as on-going work on the Boyes Boulevard Bridge has reduced cross-town traffic between Arnold Drive and Sonoma Highway.

The work, which began over a year ago in September of 2019, shut down the bridge for several months extending into the first part of 2020, during which time a pedestrian bridge was set up for foot-traffic over the creek, and utilities relocated to a temporary bridge

But this summer the bridge was completely removed, and now it’s undergoing the major work it has long needed to improve drainage, lighting and roadway approaches. The concrete abutments are nearly complete, and the surrounding slopes are being restored.

“Soon, the precast girders that are the substructure of the bridge will be set in place. This will be followed by construction of the bridge deck,” said Dan Virkstis of the county’s Transportation and Public Works department.

The bridge renovation is budgeted at approximately $5.6 million. The contractor is currently working two to three crews, of four to five people each, every day depending on the task. “Also onsite on any given day are two to four members of the construction management team,” said Virkstis.

So far there have been two obstacles that have slowed progress, one a statewide cement shortage, causing some crucial concrete pours to be rescheduled, the other the discovery of a dark-eyed junco nest built along the creek, at the base of the old bridge last spring. The nest was protected by a perimeter and work in that area was delayed until the young birds left the nest, but Virkstis said, “the overall schedule is on target.”

In the coming months the utilities will be moved from the temporary bridge to the new bridge, and road approaches will be completed. Finishing touches on the bridge, including lighting and guard railings, will be built in the spring.

The bridge is expected to reopen for vehicular and foot traffic in spring.

Email Christian at christian.kallen@sonomanews.com.

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