Edhat Staff
Source: County of Santa Barbara Public Works
After nearly a year of construction, the new Goleta Beach Park bridge was opened to traffic. The contractors, MCM Construction, moved automotive traffic to the new bridge in order to start work on the demolition of the old bridge. Bicycle and pedestrian traffic will remain on the old bridge for one more day until temporary rails can be installed on the new bridge. Remaining project tasks include demolition of the existing bridge, aesthetic treatments on the bridge, and landscaping. The entire Goleta Beach Park bridge project is expected to be finished in September.
Both lanes will initially open to traffic on the new bridge, but future work will require traffic to be reduced to a single lane. The unfinished bridge deck will have temporary striping until grooving and grinding work is complete. Additional work on the new bridge includes staining, painting, and aesthetic details.
Demolition work on the old bridge is planned in August. Demolition work includes installing sheet piles in the channel to divert water and prevent materials from the old bridge from entering the slough. An environmental monitor will be on site during this phase to ensure none of the work has a negative impact on the slough and wildlife.
Second District County Supervisor Janet Wolf said, “I am confident that park visitors, whether they arrive by car, bike, bus, or on foot, will be very pleased with the new bridge, which will complement the other amenities that we have at Goleta Beach County Park.”
Public Works Director Scott McGolpin said, “The new bridge is almost finished and it is great to be at a point where people can start to use it. We expect to celebrate the completion of the entire project with a ribbon cutting ceremony in a month.”
The contractor will continue to provide traffic control on Sandspit Road to ensure the safety of the traveling public. For more information on this project and other Santa Barbara County Public Works Transportation Projects, visit www.pwsb.net.
