Rio Linda Boulevard Bridge Replacement

Mark Thomas led final design for a new 66-foot-long, two-span, cast-in-place reinforced concrete slab bridge to replace the existing 1939 structure over the North Channel of Dry Creek along Rio Linda Boulevard. The project included pavement improvements and widening to accommodate future Class II bikeways.

The existing bridge was a 59-foot-long, four-span concrete slab supported by steel and concrete bents, with a sufficiency rating of 49.8 and classified as structurally deficient, qualifying it for HBP funding. The surrounding area, one mile south of Elkhorn Boulevard, is a mix of agricultural and residential land with significant truck traffic. Existing structural concerns included longitudinal soffit cracks with efflorescence in Span 2.

Utility coordination was a key component, as joint utility poles with electrical and telephone lines are located along the eastern shoulder and near the bridge barrier, with additional overhead and underground telecommunications facilities in the area. These utilities, including fiber optic lines, must be managed carefully during construction.