Modesto's century-old Seventh Street span, better known around town as the "Lion Bridge," shut down to vehicle traffic today, as crews moved into the main phase of a long-planned replacement project. The 1916 cantilevered concrete arch has been under strict weight limits for decades and will be taken down so a new, wider crossing can go up in the same alignment. Drivers are being told to brace for detours and heavier downtown congestion while the work is underway.
County and city officials peg the overall price tag in the neighborhood of $133 to $134 million, with roughly two years of major construction now on the clock. The replacement design calls for a 1,238-foot, eight-span concrete box-girder bridge with two traffic lanes in each direction, plus new bike and pedestrian facilities. All four of the bridge's iconic lion statues are set to be preserved as part of the plan, according to CBS Sacramento.
Why the shutdown is necessary
The existing 1916 structure has been showing advanced deterioration for years and has carried a four-ton gross load limit since 1979, which has cramped freight movement and complicated emergency access into parts of south Modesto. Stanislaus County documents flag the bridge's extremely low sufficiency rating and explain that the new structure will sit within the existing footprint, requiring a full roadway closure while major work is carried out. The county's Board of Supervisors report lays out the environmental approvals, design details and construction schedule in detail: Stanislaus County Department of Public Works.
Detours and what drivers should expect
With the Lion Bridge offline, officials are directing traffic to Highway 99, while local commuters are being directed to the Ninth Street crossing to cross the river. Planners warn that the closure will tack extra minutes onto many trips and that freight haulers and emergency vehicles will need to map out alternate routes while the bridge cannot legally carry standard truck loads. Detour maps and guidance stress planning ahead for rush-hour travel, per CBS Sacramento.
Preserving the lions and the bridge's history
The Seventh Street span has long been a Modesto landmark, and project materials lean hard on preserving its character even as engineers raise the bridge profile and reinforce the channel to meet modern hydraulic and seismic standards. Project drawings and outreach notes show plans to relocate two of the original cast-stone lions to a new pedestrian plaza on the north end, while the remaining pair will be conserved for display near a future civic site. For design details and the full preservation plan, see the Seventh Street Bridge.
Funding and regional significance
The rebuild is backed by a mix of federal bridge program funds, state grants and local Measure L dollars. StanCOG and county materials place the total cost near $133 million and highlight a $15 million state Local Partnership Program award that will help pay for intersection upgrades tied to the project. Planners say widening the crossing and restoring full truck capacity should smooth freight flows and strengthen emergency response along the corridor. The funding breakdown and regional context are detailed in a StanCOG press release: StanCOG.
How to follow the work
Project teams note that pre-construction activities began in late 2025 and that in-channel construction will be timed to avoid sensitive environmental windows. The county and project website will post traffic advisories, key milestones and contact information for construction questions as work moves forward. For ongoing updates, check the official project page at 7thStreetBridge.org and the Stanislaus County Public Works projects list.
