News of the Arroyo
Title: | Arroyo bridge to be replaced |
Subtitle: | |
Date: | 2008-08-01 |
Summary: | August 1, 2008 - A key bridge for hikers in the Upper Arroyo Seco will be replaced by the City of Pasadena. |
Author: | Charles Cooper |
Publication: | La Canada Valley Sun |
Content: | The city of Pasadena will spend $1.1 million to replace a bridge over Arroyo Seco Creek, located in the canyon behind the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The bridge is part of a trail that’s popular with Southland hikers. It begins at Windsor Avenue and Ventura Street, and extends to the headwaters of the stream at Red Box on the Angeles Crest Highway. The bridge was damaged during the storms of January and February of 2005, and closed to vehicular traffic. It’s a timber truss structure that is at least 60 years old, and is used both by recreation users and for maintenance by the Pasadena water department, and emergency vehicles. The original estimated cost of the project was $670,000. Pasadena council members questioned the increase in cost to $1.12 million. Water and power general manager Phyllis Currie said the increase was due in part to the unexpectedly high cost of mitigation measures imposed by the department of fish and game to protect the stream bed and local wildlife, and in part due to higher than expected construction costs. Pasadena Councilman Sid Tyler asked if any effort was made to get the county and the forest service to contribute to the project. Both declined, according to the utility chief. Tyler asked if the project could be rebid to see if any other bidders would respond. The single bidder was Toby B. Hayward Inc., for a construction cost of $732,107 with contingencies. Currie said if the project were delayed the cost would likely increase. She said she was also concerned about potential city liability from hikers who continue to use the bridge despite warning signs. The work is expected to begin in September and take about four months. —By Charles Cooper |
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