Nevada approves engineering contract for 8th Street bridge rehab, moves forward on inspections

The Nevada City Council on Monday approved contracts to inspect and rehabilitate the 8th Street bridge over West Indian Creek, a project staff and members said will raise the bridge’s posted weight rating and is largely grant-funded. Council passed Resolution No. 89 to contract with WHKS for 2026 bridge inspections and Resolution No. 90 to engage JEO Consulting Group for design and engineering on the 8th Street rehabilitation.

City staff said the work for the 8th Street structure will be a rehabilitation — not a full replacement — and will include deck replacement, new railing, structural beam repair and strengthening, rip-rap wrap and substructure repairs. Staff estimated engineering costs at $109,900 and said federal and state grant funds administered through DOT are expected to cover most construction costs; staff described an overall project estimate in the neighborhood of $1.5 million.

"This is just a rehab," a city staff member said in response to council questions about scope. Council members and staff noted the rehab would allow the bridge to be rated to 20 tons from its current 8-ton rating, which staff said is important because city trucks use the route and the storage area beyond the bridge supports operations.

Council members discussed alternatives in passing, including relocating stored rock or equipment rather than spending on structural work; one councilmember asked whether the materials the city stores beyond the bridge represented enough value to justify the expense. Staff replied that federal bridge funds are targeted to this structure and cannot easily be reallocated to other uses, and that the engineering fee would be the main local cost while grants would cover the remainder.

The council approved both resolutions in separate votes (Resolution No. 89 for WHKS and Resolution No. 90 for JEO).