The Sunnyvale Sun
News
City memo deems bridges unsafe, in need of renovations
By Cody Kraatz
Caltrans inspected 11 of Sunnyvale's 99 bridges in 2006 and found three of them--or 27 percent--need repairs because they are unsafe or heading that way, on par with California and national averages, according to a city memo.
The city drafted the memo in September 2007 to address residents' concerns after the deadly August collapse of an interstate bridge into the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, but only released it recently.
Two of the Sunnyvale bridges are "structurally deficient," which was the same rating as the Minneapolis bridge, but the city said no bridges are dangerous enough to close.
"Although reported as structurally deficient, or functionally obsolete, this does not necessarily mean they are unsafe for use," the memo said. Rather, "renovation or corrective work is necessary" to prevent them from becoming a hazard.
One bridge, Mathilda Avenue over Caltrain and Evelyn Avenue, has been deemed "functionally obsolete." Built in 1965, it lacks sidewalks, the clearance underneath is slim and the ramp from southbound Mathilda Avenue onto westbound Evelyn Avenue is too narrow.
The city is designing a $29 million renovation, with $25.5 million from federal funds and the rest from city gas taxes.
Two other bridges, the Fair Oaks Avenue bridge over Caltrain and the Old Mountain View-Alviso Road bridge over Calabazas Creek, have been tagged "structurally deficient," because of deterioration and rust. The Old Mountain View-Alviso Road bridge, built in 1964, will likely be replaced.
Construction on the two bridges is to begin in 2009 and 2010, respectively, and will cost nearly $12 million, with $11 million in federal highway funds and the rest from the city's gas tax allotment.
Four others need $975,000 in repairs to roadways and guardrails--all to come from gasoline taxes.
The Mathilda Avenue project was delayed after councilman-elect Dave Whittum won part of a lawsuit in June arguing that the city did not properly address construction noise. A Santa Clara County court required the city to hold off on work until it could mitigate the noise.
Geoff Bradley, a principal at Metropolitan Planning Group, which is located in an old Greyhound station beneath the bridge, said he was not concerned about renovations.
"We knew about [the renovation plans] moving in so ... we're not in a position to complain," he said, adding that his company may be asked to move out during construction.
