State Route 217 San Jose Creek Bridge Replacement

proposed

Caltrans proposes to replace the existing San Jose Creek Bridge (Bridge Number 51-0217) in Santa Barbara County on State Route 217 from post mile 0.9 to post mile 1.4. Concrete on the superstructure of the existing bridge contains reactive aggregate, which may compromise the structural integrity of the bridge. Additionally, the outside shoulder widths do not meet existing standards. The project would replace the existing bridge with a wider one that would provide standard lane and shoulder widths and a standard 10-foot-wide bicycle and pedestrian path on the northbound side. The new bridge would include features that would allow the structure to be raised to accommodate future sea-level rise. Rebars with couplers and pins would be installed to extend the bridge columns, which would allow the superstructure to be raised by jacking without the need for structure replacement. The existing bridge is supported on six bents, or sets of piers, with 11, 15-inch-diameter columns per bent, for a total of 66 columns. The new bridge would remove the existing 66 columns and replace them with one bent consisting of eight, 42-inch-diameter columns.