Construction of the El Camino Real Bridge Replacement Project

Author: Public Works
Date: 5/9/2024 1:22 PM

SANTA MARGARITA – On Monday, May 13, 2024, the County of San Luis Obispo will begin work to replace the bridge on El Camino Real at Santa Margarita Creek between Santa Margarita and Atascadero.

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The public can expect reduced speeds and delays of up to 10 minutes through the construction zone until November 2024.

This project will replace a bridge that has reached the end of its useful life and will improve roadway safety by providing a new center turn-lane and adding wider paved shoulders for vehicle and bicycle safety. Work will also include a left-turn lane at the intersection of Asuncion and Santa Margarita roads and the reconstruction of a portion of those roads near the bridge.  

The first part of the project will involve constructing a temporary detour bridge adjacent to the existing bridge, which will take approximately one month. Once the detour bridge is in place, traffic will be diverted around the existing bridge through a 15-mph detour. After the existing bridge is demolished, the new bridge will be constructed in its place. Traffic will be re-routed onto the new bridge and the temporary bridge will be removed in the Fall of 2024. 

In addition to the bridge replacement, the project will relocate a portion of the Nacimiento Water Pipeline from the existing pipe bridge into the new bridge structure. 

Souza Construction has been awarded a contract for $6.9 million to perform the work. The project is funded by the Federal Highway Administration via grant funding administered by Caltrans and local funds. 

Please see map for location.

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