Construction of a 1,942-ft. (591 m) long, 104-ft. (31.6 m) wide, five-span concrete bridge is set to begin along Interstate 5 in Shasta County, Calif.

Several weeks ago, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), along with the Federal Highway Administration, officially approved a $125 million contract for the Antlers Bridge Replacement Project to Slymar, Calif.-based Tutor Perini.

According to Caltrans District 2, a tentative groundbreaking is set for November 16.

Fred Morell, project manager for Tutor Perini, confirmed this saying preliminary construction work would take place during November and December, with “real construction” starting in January 2010.

The $125 million project will replace the Sacramento River (Antlers) Bridge, which spans the Sacramento River arm of Shasta Lake near the community of Lakehead.

Built in 1941 by the Bureau of Reclamation, the 1,330 ft.-long (405 m) existing bridge has exceeded its design life and exhibits significant characteristics of aging.

A key element of the I-5 corridor, the new bridge will be constructed on a new parallel alignment slightly east of the existing bridge.

Following new bridge construction the existing, concrete-decked, streel truss structure will be demolished and removed.

In addition to new bridge construction, a .4-mi. (.6 km) long section of highway south of the bridge will be realigned, which will reduce accidents.

Currently that .4-mi. stretch of highway includes a series of curves on a six percent grade, making the accident rate on this section of highway higher than average for similar highway segments statewide, according to Caltrans.

The entire project will take five years to complete.

During the five-year construction period there will be: freeway traffic detours; restrictions to certain areas near the construction zone; detours and speed reduction zones on the lake near the project; and temporary northbound off ramp and southbound on ramp closures at Antlers Road Interchange.

However, Antlers boat ramp will remain open and lake access through the construction zone will be maintained.

Tutor Perini’s project bid of $125 million was 43 percent less than the engineer’s estimate, according to Caltrans. CEG

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