Two bridge projects, including replacement of one with a long history in Los Olivos, will take place this summer in the Santa Ynez Valley.

Caltrans said the demolition of the Alamo Pintado Creek pedestrian bridge adjacent to Highway 154 near Los Olivos occurred Monday after delays. 

State officials had warned that demolition of the bridge might create loud construction noise in the area.

Demolition was delayed a couple of weeks from mid-June due to the discovery of a bird nest in the area, but took place over two hours Monday, according to Caltrans officials.

“The rest of the week will be spent cleaning up & hauling away debris,” Caltrans representatives said.

The proposed replacement of what residents labeled “a truly historic bridge” was the focus of a virtual meeting in 2021. 

The bridge was first built in 1912, with a new structure developed upstream in 1971. At the time, residents asked the state to leave the 1912 structure so it could be used by pedestrians and equestrians. 

Concrete footing encasements were installed, but have since become exposed and undermined. 

An inspection in 2011 led to a report a year later that “determined the abandoned bridge is no longer stable with respect to gravity load, and the bridge is sinking slowly at the supports.

In the inspection report, recommendations were made to retrofit the bridge or simply remove the bridge. 

“Since those recommendations were made, it has been determined that retrofitting the substructure would result in significant substructure modifications, including seismic retrofitting, scour mitigation, embankment armoring, and foundation retrofitting.”

The project, with construction estimated at $4 million, began in the spring, and should be done by summer 2025, according to Caltrans’ schedule. 

A different project to widen the Nojoqui Creek Bridge and replace the structure’s railing on Highway 101 also will begin this summer, according to Caltrans. 

Drivers can expect short-term lane closures Tuesday and Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Starting Thursday, drivers should expect a right lane closures in both directions of the roadway from south of the bridge to south of the Santa Rosa Road overcrossing, according to Caltrans.

The $6.5 million project should be done by summer 2024, Caltrans said.

Meanwhile, the project to remove and reconstruct the Highway 101 bridge at the interchange with Highway 135 in Los Alamos was recently completed, according to Caltrans. 

The contractor for this $15 million project was CalPortland Construction of Santa Maria.