To enhance public safety and year-round connectivity, Sonoma County's Board of Supervisors has greenlit the construction of a new permanent bridge over the Russian River on Washington School Road, near Asti, reported the County of Sonoma. Given the nod today, the project aims to replace the current practice of installing and removing a temporary, seasonal bridge, a costly and environmentally taxing endeavor, with a sturdier two-lane structure.
The much-anticipated permanent bridge will provide reliable access for the residents of surrounding areas and promise the addition of essential roadway improvements, including the provision for pedestrians and cyclists. Supervisor James Gore, whose district includes the site of the forthcoming construction, captured the sentiment of the community by stating, "This project has overwhelming community support from homeowners and neighbors who for too long have faced the risk of being trapped if the seasonal bridge is not open and a wildfire cuts off River Road north to Cloverdale". For those such as the denizens of Palomino Lakes and members of the Alexander Valley Citizens League, the concept of permanent ingress and egress satisfies a critical requirement, according to the County of Sonoma.
With current detours extending an additional 10 miles when the temporary bridge is unavailable, establishing this bridge is projected to maintain existing traffic flows without increasing congestion. The project, overseen by the Department of Public Infrastructure, will adhere to Caltrans standards and await further financial strategies that may involve the establishment of an assessment district, the process accounted for by the department's ongoing planning and design phases. These details precede the estimated construction cost of $30 million.
Environmental considerations are integral to the scheme, and an assortment of mitigation measures has been put forward to uphold such standards, measures such as erecting retaining walls to limit the effect on indigenous oak trees, curbing tree removal, and assimilating the bridge's aesthetics with the natural landscape feature among the proactive steps being taken, offsetting aspects like air and noise pollution during the building phase along with the implementation of biological monitoring and cultural resource protection are assured by the county's nuanced approach, assuring the bridge's design will take care to respect the area's natural and cultural heritage, this according to the County of Sonoma.