Out with the Old

Boyes Boulevard is one of three major connecting routes from Arnold Drive on the west side of Sonoma Valley and the Sonoma Highway, State Highway 12. Boyes bridge, built in 1955 crosses Sonoma creek and was retrofitted twice over the years. However, after more than six decades, the two-span, steel girder bridge became functionally obsolete and seismically deficient.

A Bridge Built to Last

The new bridge is a single-span box girder bridge, built to current standards and can withstand a 100-year storm event. The bridge is located in a busy suburban corridor, and because of environmental concerns, construction progressed over two seasons.

In 2018, a temporary pedestrian bridge was constructed, and various utilities were temporarily relocated to this structure. The following year, the old bridge was removed and replaced, and utilities were permanently relocated on the new structure.  This project presented limited work windows each season with the removal and replacement of the Boyes Blvd during in-water work.

Managing the Project while Maintaining Delivery Schedules

The Ghirardelli Team provided construction management and inspection service for this project. Specific duties included maintaining construction diaries that include documentation of the work progress, materials tested, and any other pertinent information in a daily diary for a permanent record of events. Photographs of project progress were regularly taken and kept for permanent records to support disputes and verify quality for acceptance.

Aside from crossing a creek, the project faced several challenges including delays caused by cement shortages, the Glass fire, COVID-19 lockdowns, and the presence of nesting birds on the bridge. Despite these challenges, the project was successfully completed on schedule.

Project Success Worth Celebrating

The County of Sonoma hosted a grand opening ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completed project. The new bridge will help improve community mobility and improve safety.