San Rafael, CA – A 53-year-old steel and wooden bridge in Lagunitas will be replaced in a couple of years, and the Marin County Department of Public Works (DPW) is hosting a community meeting March 17 to allow San Geronimo Valley residents to get more familiar with the project.
Mountain View Road Bridge spans Lagunitas Creek.
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Mountain View Road Bridge spans San Geronimo Creek and connects Sir Francis Drake Boulevard on the north side of the creek with Mountain View Road and Corona Avenue on the south side. The bridge is in a rural area about 11 miles west of downtown San Rafael and one mile east of the entrance to Samuel P. Taylor State Park.
The existing bridge is a steel “railroad car frame” structure with timber deck runners and wooden railings. According to DPW engineers and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), the bridge needs to be replaced because of rust on the steel, an undermined foundation due to creek bank erosion, deteriorating wooden railings, and a lack of width for traffic.
Several endangered wildlife species live in or near the bridge replacement project area. During project development, DPW staff and its partner agencies will look at ways to protect the riparian habitat, minimize creek impacts and integrate stream bank restoration into the project.
The work schedule includes preliminary engineering completion by the end of March, final design completion by spring 2017 and the beginning of construction by spring 2018. The bridge will be closed during parts of construction, which could last up to two years, and traffic will be diverted to the Lagunitas Bridge a quarter mile to the west.
The project is funded by the federal Highway Bridge Program. DPW has five active bridge replacement projects and one bridge rehabilitation project, all being pursued together. The County is paying less than 10 percent of the combined costs.
The meeting will be at 6 p.m. at Lagunitas School’s multipurpose room, 1 Lagunitas Road. It will include opening remarks, a presentation, a Q&A session and other chances to provide input on design goals. Engineers are in the very early stages of design and seek community input. Learn more details on the project webpage.
All public meetings and events sponsored or conducted by the County of Marin are held at accessible sites. If you are a person with a disability and require information or materials in alternative formats – or if you require accommodation to participate in a county program, service or activity – please contact department staff at (415) 473-7331 or (415) 473-4381 (voice/TTY) or e-mail disabilityaccess@marincounty.org.