State Parks offers $1 million to fix Pilarcitos bridge: Key segment of Half Moon Bay coastal trail closed since April

“It really is an important artery for our children that can bike to school, people that bicycle along the coastal trail that go to work and for our visitors,” Mayor John Mueller said. “It truly is a jewel of the California coast to be able to go from the harbor, all the way down through Half Moon Bay and further south.”

State Parks owns the 21-year-old bridge that has been closed since April after a service vehicle caused significant damage by driving over it. To the concern of the community, the state initially stated it would cost $1.8 million and take two years to replace.

Without the Pilarcitos Creek Bridge, the public is inconveniently forced to take the Naomi Patridge Trail near Highway 1 between Venice Boulevard and Kelly Avenue.

Frustrated by the notion the coastal trail could remain segmented for years, the City Council stepped up last month by offering to contribute $100,000 and consider the possibility of an interim fix.

After hiring its own engineering firm, the City Council announced at its meeting Tuesday night that a permanent solution, likely a replacement, makes the most sense. If everything goes smoothly, the community could see a new bridge as early as mid-October 2015, said Deputy City Manager Alex Khojikian.

A temporary fix, while initially less expensive at $350,000, would require a full replacement within five years, reduce the width of the bridge in half and cost more in the long run, Mueller and Khojikian said.

Although State Parks announced its willingness to contribute toward the project, there are requirements that must first be met before money exchanges hands, Khojikian said.

First, formal and more detailed plans must be approved by State Parks, said Vicky Waters, deputy director of public affairs for California State Parks.

Much of the $1 million was freed up from when an alternate state project was completed under budget. The Legislature must approve State Parks’ expenditure on Pilarcitos Creek Bridge, which involves a 30-day review period once a proposal is submitted. State Parks and the city will also need to solidify an agreement, Waters and Khojikian said.

“There are things that have to happen before any of this money actually appears over here, but it’s great news compared to where we were seven weeks ago,” Khojikian said. “To have a state agency work this fast and the councilmembers collaborating with [Assemblyman] Rich Gordon’s office and [state] Sen. Jerry Hill’s office and State Parks staff, we really give them credit. … It’s really good news, but we still have a lot of work to do.”

The California Coastal Conservancy has also been an active participant in finding a solution for the bridge and has offered $200,000, Khojikian said.

The city could increase its contribution up to $300,000 if the city’s upcoming sales tax Measure O passes in the November election, Khojikian said.

The city is hopeful the project will proceed as quickly as possible, but there are extenuating circumstances such as environmental permitting, Khojikian said.

The Coastal Commission, as well as the state and federal departments of Fish and Wildlife will likely review the proposal.

What, if anything, the engineers determine is salvageable on the bridge, could affect what types of permits are mandated. If the pilings are solid and disturbing the ground isn’t necessary, it may require less extensive permits, Khojikian and Waters said.

“You’re dealing with environmentally sensitive habitat out there, especially with the Pilarcitos Creek. So with that, we have to take all measures possible if there’s endangered species out there. We have to work within those constraints,” Khojikian said.

Construction is also susceptible to weather conditions that led to the bridge’s quick demise. The bridge was initially constructed with inadequate parts that didn’t withstand inclement weather, wind, salt and water.

Building will need to wait until the coast’s dry season, typically between April and October, Khojikian said.

Although the city may take a more active role in the project and Half Moon Bay’s consultants have estimated a permanent fix to cost half a million dollars less than what State Parks initially believed, the state agency will assist in all ways possible, Waters said.

“This does continue to be, as we said from the very beginning, a top priority of the department. We understand this bridge is very important to the community so we have been working very hard identifying the funding and making sure there’s movement on the project,” Waters said. “It’s always the devil’s in the details. At this point, we do need to make sure that we have all the agreements in place so we’re able to move forward expeditiously on it.”

Khojikian said the consultants are continuing to evaluate the bridge and formalize a construction proposal as State Parks works toward legislative approval.

Mueller said the City Council is very pleased with the state, county and local collaboration that’s helped to secure a plan for the community serving bridge.

“We all worked really hard and it came through. Because our staff was just so diligent and decided to continue to work with our legislators and this relationship the council has made with them is just such a gift,” Mueller said. “We’re really excited to hopefully get this trail open as soon as possible. … This is a huge asset for the California coast.”

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