Edinger Avenue Bridge Replacement
Location
Edinger Avenue and Countess Street, over Bolsa Chica Channel
City or County Responsible for Project
County of Orange
Category
Bridge: Efficient and Sustainable Bridge Maintenance, Construction and Reconstruction Projects
Author
Regina Hu
County of Orange
601 N. Ross Street, Santa Ana, CA 92701
7146473927
Project Description
The deteriorated, timber Edinger Avenue Bridge, built in 1968, is the only access for Sunset Aquatic Marina/Shipyard and OC Sheriff’s Marine Operations Bureau, over Bolsa Chica Channel connecting the cities of Seal Beach and Huntington Beach. Due to an underwater pest infestation by “marine borer” crustacean, 50 out of the 140 wooden piles were eaten away, forcing an emergency bridge closure by Caltrans. Temporary repair measures were implemented in 2015 to keep the bridge open with load restrictions. In 2019 after years of programming, engineering design, and construction, the bridge was finally replaced with a 340-ft precast concrete, 4-span bridge that can now accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists. Caltrans Highway Bridge Program and SB1 funds made the challenging $14.4 million project possible. The new Edinger Avenue Bridge (5-ft higher profile) meets clearances for current flood water standards, while providing a safer passageway for marine animals and harbor facilities. Situated adjacent to the National Wildlife Refuge, staff encountered vulnerable marine and terrestrial mammals including barn owls, sea lion, grey whale, sea turtles, eelgrass and various other protected birds, reptile, fish, and plant species. The project aimed to preserve the natural environment throughout the construction process by implementation of an underwater bubble curtain, debris boom, netting and platforms for aviaries, continuous monitoring, as well as an offsite marsh wetland as mitigation. Biological and hydro-acoustic monitors were on site throughout construction to ensure that no wildlife was adversely impacted by the bridge work including: • Divers to survey for protected and invasive plants • Hydro-acoustic monitoring to ensure that no marine mammals, turtles or fish were harmed by noise/vibration generating activities • Biological monitoring of nesting birds • Bat surveys prior to construction. Bat roosts were incorporated into the bridge design. • Paleo monitoring • During construction a pair of barn owls nested in the bridge and successfully reared and fledged two sets of owlets (total five juvenile barn owls). Safeguarding measures ensured that the owls were not harmed and the nest remained undisturbed until the juvenile owls had left the nest. • During construction the site was visited by a gray whale and a sea lion. This bridge is a critical lifeline facility to Sunset Aquatic Marina residents, businesses, and OC Sheriff’s offices, being the only path for emergency vehicles and motorists. The old bridge was in jeopardy of load and width limitations for fire truck access. Maintaining the emergency access during construction warranted extensive traffic control, temporary signals, and fabrication of a temporary bridge trestle for more than a year. Based on coordination with sheriff and fire authorities, the widened lanes and increased loading capacity of the replaced Edinger Avenue Bridge provides an added safety assurance for the community.
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