Bridge Repair: Caltrans To Close SR-116 In Forestville For 72 Hours

SONOMA COUNTY, CA—As part of an emergency project to strengthen the Jones Creek Bridge on State Highway 116 in Forestville, Caltrans will close a half-mile stretch of the roadway for three days.

Gravenstein Highway between Packing House Lane and Kay Lane will be closed for 72 hours from 7 p.m. Friday, June 28, to 7 p.m. Monday, July 1.

The emergency road closure was scheduled after Caltrans engineers found during a recent inspection that the 22-foot, two-lane Jones Creek Bridge has excess weight and does not comply with or meet current standards and regulations.

"Years of paving have produced excess asphalt overlay that should be removed to lighten the bridge's static load," said Jeff Weiss, Caltrans spokesperson.

For the three-day closure, Caltrans will detour traffic from SR-116 onto Mirabel Road, River Road, Laguna Road and Guerneville Road. Local traffic will be permitted to travel past the closure points but not on the bridge.

The detour adds 5.2 miles and drivers can expect it to add about seven minutes to their trip under typical weekend traffic. In any case, travelers should allot extra time if they plan to travel through this area during the closure weekend, Weiss said.

Detour Map

Rebuilding A Stronger Bridge

The Jones Creek Bridge has one lane in each direction, and according to Caltrans, much of the strengthening work must be performed in the middle of the bridge. Weiss said these factors make it nearly impossible to do the work without fully closing the bridge.

In addition to removing excess asphalt, Caltrans will improve the bridge's strength by installing precast concrete girders that will rest on the bridge's abutments, not the roadway itself.

"These girders will be topped with concrete panels, creating a lighter yet stronger roadway," Weiss said. "Finally, the asphalt layer will be added over the panels to produce a smooth driving surface."

See the project webpage for further information.