For San Jose resident Marilyn Holmes, the vote was long overdue.

Holmes, who has a sister living near the bridge, had long tried to convince the council that the narrow bridge is unsafe for pedestrians and vehicles trying to cross it at the same time. She has said that the bridge is sinking and could collapse.

"I'm petrified that that whole thing will come down if the Guadalupe floods again," said Holmes moments after the council's vote.

"Just when everyone in that neighborhood thought it couldn't be done, we're finally going to have that bridge problem fixed," she said.

The council's vote was to approve an agreement with the Santa Clara Valley Water District to use a federal highway bridge rehabilitation and replacement grant for $1.5 million—administered through Caltrans—with an additional $142,000 from city traffic capital funds.

A memorandum to the council from James Helmer, director for the city's department of transportation, said the water district is working on a flood protection project along the Guadalupe River between Highway 280 and Blossom Hill Road.

The project, called simply the "Upper Guadalupe River Project," should enhance flood protection for 7,500 properties, help the river's ecology and also make installing a recreational trail more efficient. The project is comprised of several phases that could take a decade to complete.

The Willow Glen Way bridge replacement, however, is part of one of the earliest phases, and reconstruction could begin as soon as next year. Holmes, however, would prefer sooner, before this winter's rainy season.

"I'm not sure that bridge can take one more year," she said.

Helmer's report says that replacing the bridge will allow the river channel to be widened will bring the bridge up to current seismic standards. The new bridge would be 50 feet wide and 119 feet long and could cost an estimated $1.8 million.

As part of the city's public outreach program, the city and the water district will organize public meetings with nearby residents before that construction begins to discuss the design and effects on the neighborhood.

Council member Ken Yeager, who represents District 6, was glad to hear that neighborhood input was being considered. Prior to the consent calendar vote, Yeager pulled the item for discussion to ask Helmer, who was attending the council meeting, whether there would be community input opportunities for Willow Glen residents.

"I'm glad to see that we're being strategic with this project," Yeager said.

Now that the project has been approved, the water district and the city will begin drawing up a strategy. The project may involve closing the street for some time.

Holmes and her sister's neighbors have waited six years for a safer bridge. A few days of having a road closed off will be worth the wait, Holmes said.