City staff and consultants outline McBean Park Drive bridge replacement: NEPA work ahead, construction targeted late 2025

City staff and the project consultant told the City Council on March 26 that the long‑planned McBean Park Drive bridge replacement is on track through environmental review but will require additional steps and funding before construction can begin.

Vinh, the city project executive who introduced the update, said federal grant rules mean the project needed the technical studies required by the Highway Bridge Program and its state and federal reviewers. “The federal government would not give us 88 and a half percent funding to build a project like that if it’s not needed,” he said, summarizing the rationale for federal participation and explaining that some roadway elements are not eligible for reimbursement and therefore will be city responsibilities.

Mike Sanchez, the project manager from CONSOR, gave the detailed design and schedule briefing. He said the existing bridge—originally built in 1923 and widened in 1963—regularly floods and that replacement will improve hydraulics, raise the roadway profile about five feet to meet a Q100+ freeboard requirement and add pedestrian, bicycle and NEV (neighborhood electric vehicle) accommodations and safety features. Sanchez said engineers currently estimate construction at about $16,000,000 and an upper‑end total cost (including construction management, mitigation and design) approaching $24,000,000. He told council the team has expended roughly $1.6 million on preliminary engineering to date and anticipates needing an additional $800,000–$900,000 to complete the design and right‑of‑way work before bidding.

Sanchez also described project history and environmental review: alternatives were developed beginning in 2014, multi‑agency hydraulic and cultural studies followed, and the city adopted the CEQA initial study/mitigated negative declaration in August 2023. Because the project uses federal HBP funds, Caltrans is leading NEPA clearance; staff and consultants said two NEPA tasks remain—updating an air‑quality study and confirming US Fish and Wildlife Service requirements through coordination with PCCP staff and Caltrans Environmental—and that those items could be completed in roughly six months if reviews proceed on schedule. Once NEPA is cleared, the team expects to finish final plans, appraisals and right‑of‑way acquisition steps needed to let construction.

Council members asked about lane configuration, aesthetics and potential partnerships for additional funding. Staff explained the project has been sized to match federal funding rules (which generally fund replacement without added capacity) and that city funds would pay for aesthetic and additional intersection treatments. Councilmembers also discussed outreach to neighborhood associations and tribal partners for cultural elements in the final design.

The presentation did not include a formal council action; councilmembers thanked staff and the consultant and indicated support for the schedule and next steps. The project remains contingent on NEPA clearance, remaining design funding and right‑of‑way acquisitions before a construction contract can be advertised.