County Celebrates New Bridge
The new bridge enhances pedestrian, bicycle and vehicular safety and provides a safer crossing over the river.
On Thursday, June 5, 2021, the County held an event to commemorate the successful completion of the Santa Fe Avenue Bridge Project. Stanislaus County staff, along with dignitaries and valued partners, recognized the accomplishment with an official ribbon cutting ceremony.
Construction of the replacement bridge began in 2017, and cost $20 million to complete ($2 million for design & right-of-way and $18 million for construction). Federal funding paid 88% of the total project cost with 12% covered by local funds.
The new bridge enhances pedestrian, bicycle and vehicular safety and provides a safer crossing over the river and includes the following improvements:
- Two 12-foot-wide through traffic lanes in each direction
- A 12-foot-wide center median lane to accommodate safe turning movements to/from existing driveways at both ends of the bridge
- Eight-foot-wide shoulders
Originally built in 1947, the bridge is major north/south arterial road approximately one mile south of State Route 132 serving roughly 10,000 vehicles per day. The old bridge in this location was determined to be seismically deficient. In service of the public, Stanislaus County assesses the infrastructure needs of the community on a continuous basis and strives to support the Board of Supervisors' priority around Efficient Public Services and Community Infrastructure.