Two meetings organized by Caltrans are planned at the Albion School this week, on Wednesday, April 23, from 6 to 8 p.m., and the “official” informal public information meeting on Thursday, April 24, from 5 to 8 p.m.
The first meeting follows up on an earlier Caltrans meeting with Albion residents. The Thursday event will be similar to one held in 2009, using placards showing different plans and featuring specialists from Caltrans.
Unlike in 2009, Frank Demling from Caltrans has been providing extensive details about the projects to locals, through emails and prior meetings. Caltrans staff will answer questions about both the Albion River Bridge and Salmon Creek Bridge replacement projects.
There is much information available about both projects at the Caltrans District 1 Project page, www.dot.ca.gov/dist1/d1projects/.
Interestingly, the Albion River Bridge Replacement page has been reslugged “the Albion River Bridge Improvement” page.
Salmon Creek Bridge”s page is still called replacement. Nobody has been fighting to keep that bridge, but residents are concerned about the effect on traffic and emergency services if both bridges are worked on at once.
The current schedule proposes contract award by March 2015 and construction activities possibly commencing as soon as May 2015.
One-lane traffic control is expected during regular working hours and full closures at night are anticipated. The most significant risk to schedule are the discovery of excessive decay in the timber decking, Demling told locals.
Reporter Frank Hartzell can be reached at frankhartzell@gmail.com
