Work begins on Fryer Creek Bridge reconstruction in Sonoma

Project for pedestrian and bike access between Newcomb and Manor to be completed in fall.|

Work crews broke ground on the reconstruction of the Fryer Creek Bridge this week, marking the beginning of a long-awaited project that promises improved bike and pedestrian access through the south side of Sonoma.

Following several days of utility surveying and movement of heavy equipment, this week brought the digging and installing of a utility trench from 1075 to 1095 Fryer Creek Drive.

Driveway and pedestrian access was open for residents, but parking on both sides of the street was prohibited. “There will be intermittent closures (to portions of the streets) on the project to accomplish some of the work on both sides of the bridge,” said Sonoma Public Works Director Mike Berger.

Berger said they’re about a week ahead of schedule, though the project isn’t expected to be completed until sometime in the fall.

The project is being led by F. Loduca Co. Construction, of Stockton, which was awarded the contract with a bid of $578,703.

Rebuilding Fryer Creek Bridge has been on the City of Sonoma’s to-do list for several years. Plans to commence work in the summer of 2021 were set back during the health crisis; then hopes to break ground last winter were put off due to inclement weather.

The Fryer Creek Pedestrian & Bicycle Bridge Project will see a new bridge built over the creek, connecting Newcomb Street and Manor Drive, and an 8-foot-wide, 60-foot-long paved bike and pedestrian path extending from the eastern side of the bridge to Newcomb, according to a city outline of the project at sonomacity.org. Additionally, Newcomb will benefit from a new sidewalk and adjacent curb and gutter as part of the construction.

Fryer Creek Bridge is the first major project the city has commenced since Berger was named the new public works director in April. Berger, who names bridge expertise among his strengths, describes it as “a great community project.”

When it’s completed, cyclists will have a link from the Class III bike route on Newcomb Street in which cyclists share the road with motorists ― to the bike/pedestrian-only Class 1 path on the east side of the creek ― one of only a small handful of Class 1 paths in Sonoma, where city officials have pledged to improve accessibility for cyclists and pedestrians, even if progress has at times been slow.

Sonoma City Councilmember Madolyn Agrimonti served on the Sonoma County Transportation Authority when the project was first pitched “many years ago,” she said. “Unfortunately, it fell off the radar between Council changes and city manager changes.”

But Agrimonti said she continued to press other city representatives on the SCTA for project funding until its financing was eventually approved.

“We owe a thank-you to the other cities who voted for the approval of the final stages of the project,” she said. “This bridge is very important for pedestrians and bicyclists to cross between the west and east side of the city. It’s an asset for everyone in Sonoma.”

To fund the new bridge, the City budgeted $50,000 from its general fund, with additional funds coming through grants from the Sonoma County Transportation Authority, allocations for the Quimby Act which promotes greater access to parks and recreation facilities, as well as funding from the state Gas Tax and the county Measure M transportation tax, which allocates a quarter-cent sales tax toward county transportation needs.

Email Jason at Jason.walsh@sonomanews.com.

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