The Abridged version:
- Along with the I Street bridge replacement project, Sacramento and West Sacramento plan on converting the top deck of the old bridge for pedestrians and cyclists.
- The cities have secured financing for the project but haven’t yet broken ground.
- The timeline of the conversion is tied to the construction of the replacement bridge.
Years from now, when Sacramento region residents refer to the I Street Bridge, they might have to specify which one they’re talking about.
As Sacramento and West Sacramento move closer to breaking ground on a brand-new bridge that will connect the two cities, plans for its downstream predecessor are also taking shape. The century-plus old bridge, which now serves as a vital connection over the Sacramento River, will stay in place but no longer serve vehicle traffic.
Instead, the cities plan on converting the top deck for pedestrian and bicycle use, while leaving the lower deck in place for trains.
Doug Drozd, deputy city manager for West Sacramento, said that full financing has been secured for the deck conversion project, and engineers are currently studying possible construction plans.
ADA-compliant ramps, as well as staircases and maybe elevators, will be built on both sides of the river to provide access to the deck, according to plans shared on West Sacramento’s website. To make room for the access points, the current roadway ramps from I Street and Jibboom Street will be removed. This will come at an estimated cost of about $22.5 million to be paid with a combination of local, state and federal funding.
But timing of the project is tied to construction of the replacement bridge. Until the new bridge comes online, the old one will continue to connect drivers between Yolo and Sacramento counties.
A new, wider bridge
The city of Sacramento is eyeing next May to begin construction on the replacement bridge, said spokesperson Gabby Miller. A contractor hasn’t yet been selected but the city expects bid documents to be finalized in the next few months.
Once the contractor is chosen, the final cost of the project will be confirmed. Miller said that about $275 million has already been secured from Caltrans and the California Transportation Commission, and the rest of the cost will be split up at a future date between Sacramento and West Sacramento.
Miller said the project will improve mobility across the river. Once it is built, the new bridge will be wide enough for buses and emergency vehicles. Construction is expected to take four years.
“It’s about connectivity and ensuring there’s access to both West Sacramento and the new, revitalized downtown and waterfront, riverfront area that we have there,” she said.
That reality is years away, but, if all goes according to plan, the neighboring cities will be more connected than they ever were before.
Daniel Hennessy is a reporter covering Yolo County at Abridged.