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Winship Bridge Replacement Project
Status | Active
Project questions | Contact Richard Simonitch, Public Works Director/Town Engineer, at publicworks@townofrossca.gov
Project description
Background
Every two years Caltrans performs inspections of Ross’s six bridges and prepares a Bridge Inspection Report (BIR) for each
bridge. The purpose of the inspections are to inventory the bridges and examine and assess the physical and functional condition, in addition to the adequacy of the current conditions of the bridges. Winship Bridge has had a Sufficiency Rating of just over 50 (out of 100 in the latest Structure Inventory and Appraisal Report), and a status of “Functionally Obsolete” (due to its substandard deck geometry) since at least 2007.
The Town contracted with California Infrastructure Consultancy (CIC) in May 2012 to prepare a report to identify preliminary engineering/design assessments for repairs, maintenance, and/or rehabilitation of five bridges (Glenwood Avenue, Norwood Avenue, Shady Lane, Winship Avenue, and Sir Francis Drake Boulevard). The CIC report, with input from Caltrans, concluded that the Winship Avenue bridge’s current structural conditions were too significant to be handled under the preventative maintenance program, and that replacement rather than rehabilitation was determined for the bridge based on the following factors:
- Poor structural condition (the bridge is more than 100 years old and is beyond the expected service life of 75 years) and the bridge could be at risk of collapse or failure if there is a significant seismic or flood event;
- Will not pass the design flood event (100 year flow);
- Identified by Caltrans as Functionally Obsolete;
- Does not meet current design standards for ADA requirements for pedestrian pathway;
- Is on the Marin County Flood Control priority list for replacement;
- Widening an earth-filled arch bridge wouldn’t be possible at this location due to the opening required within the flood way.
Funding for the Project:
In 2013, the Town of Ross received a Federal grant under the Highway Bridge Program (HBP) to complete the Preliminary Engineering (PE) phase of the project. Once the PE phase is complete and certified, the HBP will continue to obligate additional funding to cover the Town's expenses related to Right of Way/Easement acquisitions, Final Engineering, and Construction. The Winship Bridge Project is projected to be funded 88.53% from the HBP with the remaining 11.47% to come from State Toll Credits, for 100% funding. In addition, the Town has secured funding from Marin County Public Work, Flood Control Zone 9, to provide the Town the upfront cash flow needed to pay for costs that are not eligible for reimbursement under the HBP, primarily relating to completing the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requirements. As of 2024, the total cost of the replacement project including design and construction is estimated to be $4.3 million.
Next Steps
On March 12, 2020, Town Council approved Resolution No. 2147 adopting the Final Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (Final IS/MND) and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP), approving the Winship Avenue Bridge Replacement Project as described in the Final IS/MND, and completing the CEQA process. With the adoption of CEQA, Town Council authorized staff to complete the necessary steps to prepare project plans, specifications, and estimates to the 80% design level. With the adoption of the Final IS/MND in 2020, the Town began preparing additional environmental documents and studies to satisfy the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). NEPA certification is required for any project using Federal funding such as the Federal HBP grant. The COVID-19 pandemic, changes to upstream hydraulics, and programmatic changes in the NEPA and HBP process have caused considerable delays to completing the NEPA process, which is now scheduled to be completed in the Fall of 2025.
Once the NEPA process is completed, the Town will begin the process of acquiring easements from private property owners to allow for construction and maintenance of the replacement bridge and proceed to complete the final design of the bridge. Construction of the bridge is estimated to begin in 2027.
