Bridge upgrades near approval

June Casagrande

Almost 14 years after the city began seeking Caltrans funds to

strengthen its bridges against earthquakes, local officials think

they’re finally on the verge of getting Caltrans to approve funds for

the last phase of the project.

The Little Balboa Island bridge, the Goldenrod Avenue pedestrian

bridge and the northbound and southbound Jamboree Road bridges over

San Diego Creek could soon win federal highway funds for retrofits

that would allow them to remain standing during a 7.0 magnitude

earthquake.

The Lido Isle, Newport Island and Balboa Island bridges were all

retrofitted in 1998 and 1999 with money from the Federal Highway

Administration and from the state. That work cost about $3.5 million

and was covered 80% with federal money and 20% with state grants.

Now, because of the state budget crisis, Sacramento is no longer

chipping in. The city will have to come up with the remaining portion

of the approximately $1.9 million cost of reinforcing the three

remaining bridges.

City engineer Lloyd Dalton said that the standards for bridge

safety have changed over the years, the last time in 1989 after the

Loma Prieta earthquake, nicknamed the World Series Shaker. The

retrofit is needed only to get the bridges up to these higher safety

standards, not because the bridges are deteriorating or dangerous.

“The bar has been raised on seismic analysis of all of our

bridges,” Dalton said. “The retrofit would reinforce them for what’s

called a ‘major seismic event.’ It is called a ‘no collapses’

criteria. They would sustain damage in a 7.0 or higher earthquake,

but they would still be serviceable.”

Dalton traveled to Sacramento earlier last month to meet with

representatives of Caltrans, which administers the federal highway

funds. Dalton said he’s optimistic that Caltrans will grant the

city’s request.”

The federal money is there for it, and our consultants presented a

good report with a good seismic retrofit strategy,” Dalton said.

Assuming that Caltrans commits the money, the city will begin

detailed planning. Work would likely begin in fall 2004.