Healdsburg Memorial Bridge work on track, but no swimming lagoon again this year

First the good news: Halfway through a major renovation of the Healdsburg Memorial Bridge, work is progressing pretty much on time and the bridge is on track to reopen to motor vehicles by Oct. 15.

The not so good news: To ensure the deadline is met, the summer dam that creates a public swimming lagoon just downstream from the bridge, is not going to be put up, for the second year in a row.

Healdsburg City Council members Monday were dismayed to find out that the contractor on the bridge work, Granite Construction Co., reached an agreement to pay the county to not erect the dam, which typically goes up around Memorial Day and raises the water level for recreational use at the county-run beach.

“I’m disappointed we’re just hearing about this tonight,” said City Councilman Gary Plass. “Even though it affects the community … we don’t have any right to say ‘no.’?”

He said it not only impacts recreation opportunities, but also means people who normally come to enjoy the swimming lagoon in the Russian River “won’t mosey into Healdsburg and spend money.”

“I would have thought we’d be notified,” said Councilman Tom Chambers. “It’s really disconcerting.”

The engineer overseeing the project for the city said even though the contract called for Granite Construction to plan for low water in 2014 when the dam was being repaired and for high water this summer when it was presumably going to be installed, there was nothing to prevent the company from reaching a separate agreement with the county to keep the dam down for a second year.

“He (Granite) paid to have changed conditions. He has a right to talk to other property owners,” said Doug Ries, the engineer overseeing the bridge rehabilitation project for the city. “The owner of the dam, the county, came up with a separate agreement to change project conditions.”

Reis said without the dam, it makes it easier for the contractor to replace the central bridge pier. He said it not only saves time, but less gravel needs to be removed and there is less impact to the environment.

Aside from the dam not being installed, Mayor Shaun McCaffery said he was glad the bridge project is on budget and on schedule.

The bridge, built in 1921, has been closed since just after Labor Day Weekend for an extensive renovation.

During the closure, the ?8,000 or so vehicles that cross daily have had to use the Highway 101 bridge downstream. Bicyclists and pedestrians still have been able to cross it during construction.

The vintage steel truss bridge was in danger of being demolished after it was given a poor safety grade from Caltrans in 1979. But almost three decades later, the state agency acknowledged the rating system was faulty and the bridge can carry all legal loads. But its width, height and size limitations also cast doubt on its long-term prospects.

The City Council eventually agreed to save the bridge following a lengthy public process that looked at a number of other alternatives, including building a box-like, modern concrete structure.

Preservationists cheered in 2010 when the City Council decided once and for all to fix up the old bridge, reflecting the prevailing community fondness for the town landmark.

Since then it’s been added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Work is being done to replace the center-span pier, bolster or replace various steel parts, strengthen two large bridge abutments and make other safety improvements.

The deck, sidewalks and roller bearings are being replaced, along with the chipped, lead-based paint, to meet current safety standards.

The City Council last year approved a project budget of $15.4 million, which includes ?$10 million in construction; more than $1.9 million in contingencies; $1.9 million in supplemental work; and $1.5 million for construction management.

With $3.7 million already spent for environmental studies and design, the total cost of the rehabilitation could top ?$19 million. But almost 90 percent is being paid for with federal funds.

Construction work in the river is only allowed in the dry season to accommodate migrating fish. And work must be completed by Oct. 15 or the contractor faces financial penalties.

The project includes a new traffic signal at the intersection of Front Street and Kennedy Lane.

The bridge is going to have lighting that replicate its original style of vintage steel posts with mounted globes that were on the bridge when it was first completed before being later removed.

“It’s going to bring it back to its original appearance to when it was first constructed,” said Healdsburg senior engineer Mario Landeros.