$9 million project will protect SLO County bridge from collapsing in an earthquake
A bridge at Lopez Lake is getting an upgrade to protect it from collapsing in an earthquake.
The San Luis Obispo County Public Works Department will launch a project to seismically retrofit the Lopez Drive Bridge on Monday, Jan. 30, the agency said in a news release.
The goal of the project is to “prevent a sudden bridge collapse during an earthquake event,” the Public Works Department said in the news release.
The bridge serves as an access road to the campground at Lopez Lake.
The $9.2 million project starts with “installing environmental equipment to allow for retrofitting work to start later this spring,” the news release said.
Retrofitting includes building new support columns and seismic cable restraints under the bridge, the agency said.
Construction will last from Jan. 30 to March 1 on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 7 a.m., weather permitting.
The Public Works Department will use lane closures with flagging and signs to direct traffic through the construction area between Lopez Drive and Hi Mountain Road.
“Motorists may experience intermittent delays at this location and are advised to adjust their travel plans due to those delays,” the news release said.
The county hired Irvine-based Shimmick Construction Co. to complete the project with funding from the Caltrans Highway Bridge Program.
This story was originally published January 9, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
