TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Steven Lederer, Director of Public Works
REPORT BY: Graham Wadsworth, P.E., Engineering Supervisor
SUBJECT: Approve Temporary Construction Easement Deeds in support of the Construction of the Dry Creek Road Bridge over Dry Creek Replacement Project, RDS 15-22
RECOMMENDATION
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Approve and authorize a Correction to Temporary Construction Easement Deed with Anna M. Baker, Melissa R. Baker, and Mercedes C. Baker, as Trustees of the Karen Louise Baker Bypass Trust; and a Temporary Construction Easement Deed with Christopher A. Marusich and Michelle F. Del Rosario, Trustees of the Marusich Family Revocable Trust Dated May 4, 2017. (No Fiscal Impact; Discretionary)
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BACKGROUND
The Dry Creek Road Bridge over Dry Creek (0.8 miles west of Mt. Veeder Rd.) is over 100 years old. Caltrans identified the bridge is structurally deficient, functionally obsolete and unstable due to scour under the north abutment. The substructure of the existing bridge has cracking and weathering of the mortar in the joints of the stone masonry abutments. The top section of the retaining wall near the north abutment has broken away and is leaning outward horizontally. The width is only 18 feet between the barriers, which does not meet the AASHTO standard of 11-foot minimum lanes.
Dry Creek Road is designated as a “minor collector”, and the existing bridge is an “Off-System" bridge, and thus the project is eligible for 88.53% HBP funding and 11.47% Toll Credits funding as the match for local funds. The proposed bridge structure would consist of an approximately 80-foot-long by 32-foot-wide single- span concrete slab bridge on pre-cast and pre-stressed concrete girders. The project also includes 900 feet of new roadway to remove two curves in Dry Creek Road. County staff anticipates that the contractor will build the project in four stages to minimize the disruption to traffic and this would require work in Dry Creek over two summers.
During the project design, the consultant determined that the County would need to purchase temporary construction easements (TCEs) on the Baker property (Assessor’s Parcel Number 027-530-003) and Marusich property (Assessor’s Parcel Number 027-330-015) to construct the Project. On February 28, 2022, the Board authorized the Chair to sign Purchase and Sale Agreement No. 230226B with the Baker Trustees and a TCE Deed. On July 18, 2023, the Board authorized the Chair to sign Purchase and Sale Agreement No. 230262B with the Marusich Trustees and a TCE Deed.
When Caltrans staff reviewed the temporary construction easements, they stated that the County is required to include the starting and ending dates in the TCEs to ensure that the property owners are adequately compensated in case of a construction schedule delay. Since the TCEs only included an 18-month duration, the consultants revised the TCEs and obtained signatures from the trustees. The consultant also replaced the plat map for the Baker TCE with the correct plat map.
After the County records the TCE deeds, County staff will submit a Right-of-way Certification to Caltrans. After Caltrans approves the Right-of-way Certification, County staff will submit a Request for Authorization to proceed with construction.
FISCAL & STRATEGIC PLAN IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
No |
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Is it currently budgeted? |
Yes |
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Where is it budgeted? |
The project is currently budgeted in Fund 2040, Sub-Division2040500 and Project 14009. |
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Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? |
Discretionary |
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Discretionary Justification: |
The easements are required to construct the bridge project. |
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Is the general fund affected? |
No |
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Future fiscal impact: |
The Dry Creek Road Bridge Replacement Project is eligible for 100% Federal Highway Bridge Program (HBP) and Toll Credit funding; however, some expenses may not be eligible and will be paid for by the Measure T funds. It is anticipated that all the work will be completed in fiscal year 2026-27; however, permitting agencies require future maintenance and monitoring work. |
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Consequences if not approved: |
The County will forfeit Federal HBP grant funds, would not replace the existing bridge, and might be required to return the HBP funding received to date. |
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The proposed action is not a project as defined by 14 California Code of Regulations 15378 (State CEQA Guidelines) and therefore CEQA is not applicable. On February 1, 2022, the Board adopted a Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Project.