Cabrillo Boulevard over Mission Creek Bridge Replacement

This $14M project replaced the existing bridge at Cabrillo Boulevard and State Street with a wider and longer bridge spanning Mission Creek—a highly environmentally sensitive lagoon and estuary with several environmentally-sensitive species. The new bridge, located at the creek outfall into the ocean and in one of the most tourist-heavy areas in downtown Santa Barbara, also preserves the architectural integrity of the original historic bridge.

This project constructed a new four-lane, pre-stressed, pre-cast slab bridge; reconstructed the approaching roadway and curb, gutter, and sidewalks; and installed drainage systems, hot mix asphalt (HMA) paving, decorative railings, and traffic signals and lighting. Staged construction accommodated the high level of traffic and required extensive traffic control as well as utility and public outreach coordination. The bridge is founded on special Tubex Piles as well as cast-in-drilled-hole (CIDH) pile extensions with drop caps at the pier bents. Additional project elements included adjacent building demolition; reinforced concrete soldier pile retaining walls construction; traffic detour management; temporary stream diversions and cofferdams; significant utility relocations; and a temporary multiuse bridge installation along the beach boardwalk to maintain bicycle and pedestrians. Other project features involved stream and estuary restoration downstream of the bridge, significant environmental permit requirements, and coordination with adjacent construction projects in the area.

This federally-funded project was administered in accordance with the Caltrans Local Assistance Procedures Manual (LAPM) and Caltrans methods and procedures. The project was completed on time and within budget.