Title
Supervisor Parlin recommending the Board authorize the Chair to sign a letter of support for the State Route 49 Bridge Debris Removal Project.
FUNDING: NA
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
Location of Project:
Project site consists of approximately five to six acres of the North Fork American River canyon located just downstream of the California State Route 49 Bridge (Caltrans Bridge No. 19-35) over the North Fork American River between Placer County and El Dorado County about three miles east of the City of Auburn. The project site is part of the Auburn State Recreation Area (ASRA), which consists of lands managed by the California Department of Parks and Recreation pursuant to an agreement with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the land manager for these federally owned lands.
1.0 Project Purpose
Removal of metal bridge debris and reinforced concrete roadway slabs in the river channel and along both banks of the river will eliminate a public safety hazard especially to boaters but also to swimmers and fishermen. Removal of the debris will have the ancillary benefit of eliminating a visual quality detraction in the heavily used Confluence area of ASRA.
1.1 Origin of Bridge Debris
The bridge debris is from the collapse of the State Route 49 Bridge over the North Fork American River caused by the failure of Hell Hole Dam under construction for Placer County Water Agency (PCWA) in December 1964. The bridge collapse occurred nine months before Congress and President Lyndon Johnson enacted Public Law 89-161 on September 2, 1965, which authorized construction of the Auburn Dam and Reservoir project. If the dam project had been completed the bridge debris would have been covered by hundreds of feet of reservoir water, thus eliminating the need for removal.
1.3 Public Safety Hazard Recognized
The collapsed bridge debris consists of structural steel and reinforced concrete roadway slabs. The debris is in the Confluence area of the Auburn State Recreation Area (ASRA). This is the most heavily used area in ASRA. The bridge debris is a significant hazard especially to boaters and also to swimmers, and fishermen.
See attachment for photos of debris.
Four minute video showing photos of the old bridge during dam failure and current status of debris in the river.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luxrY0xnfTg&authuser=0
ALTERNATIVES
N/A
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
N/A
FINANCIAL IMPACT
N/A
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Obtain Chair's signature and originals to be signed and distributed
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Infrastructure
Provide, operate and maintain our infrastructure, public facilities, and associated services that protect our community, environment and economic well-being
CONTACT
Supervisor Parlin, Shelley Wiley