On June 21 traffic switched to the new Floradale Avenue Bridge west of Lompoc. The new bridge is 60 feet longer, constructed adjacent to the existing bridge, and includes aesthetic enhancements, including a stained tubular bicycle railing and a concrete barrier with stained faux cobblestones and stacked rocks.

The original bridge that crosses the Santa Ynez River was built in 1969 and was replaced due to seismic deficiencies. It will be demolished later this year.

MCM Construction built the new 580-ft., two-lane concrete bridge. It incorporates four-span cast-in-place post-tensioned concrete box girders and provides the same number of travel lanes as the current bridge.

Expenditures for the $19 million project were reimbursed by the Federal Highway Bridge Program ($17 million), which includes funding from Proposition 1B State Seismic Funds ($600K), and a local match of $2.2 million.

Despite adverse weather conditions from the storm event around Jan. 9, when the Santa Ynez River overflowed its banks and the water level rose to within 7 feet of the lower surface of the original bridge arch, all work was completed on time and the bridge sustained little to no damage.

No construction time was lost because the contractor had shut down work during the winter work suspension period, and the site had been winterized per the annual winterization plan and the stormwater pollution prevention plan.

On March 9, Santa Barbara County Public Works also received an American Public Works Association – Central Coast Chapter award for the bridge in the Transportation Project Greater than $15M category.

For more information on transportation construction projects, visit www.pwsb.net.