The County of Lake, in coordination with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), proposes replacing the existing Wolk Creek Bridge (Bridge No. 14C-0049) to improve public safety. The bridge was construction in 1967 and has a sufficiency rating of 60.1 (out of 100) and has been designated as functionally obsolete per the Caltrans Structure Maintenance & Investigations, Local Agency Bridge List (March 2019). The functionally obsolete designation is a result of the insufficient deck width. Wolf Creek Road is a two-lane road, and the clear width of the existing bridge is too narrow to support standard lane and shoulder widths for a two-lane facility. Additionally, the existing bridge fails to meet the current Caltrans design standard for freeboard requirements. Hydraulic studies indicate that the existing bridge may be overtopped during a 100‐year storm event.
The bridge is in unincorporated Spring Valley in Lake County, approximately 5.4 miles northeast of State Route 20; Quad: Benmore Canyon T14N, R07W, Section 11 Universal Transvers Mercator Zone 10 (39.082336, -122.604181). Temporary construction easements may be required on parcels adjacent to the bridge. Construction staging to occur within public rights-of ways along Spring Valley Road and with easements at APNs 062-101-01, 062-102-01, and 062-092-03. A temporary water crossing may be required at APN 062-101-01. Figure 1 shows an approximate location of the project site; Figure 2 provides an aerial image of the Project site
Funding for the project comes from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) through the Federal Highway Bridge Program. The responsibilities of the FHWA, Caltrans, and Lake County are covered in Caltrans’ Local Assistance Procedures Manual in Chapter 2. As required by the Caltrans 23 USC 327 NEPA Assignment MOU between the FHWA and Caltrans, in addition to planning and permitting Caltrans is responsible for compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) while Lake County as the Local Public Agency (LPA) is responsible for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Caltrans has reviewed the preliminary details of the project and supports a full replacement scope. The purpose of the proposed project is to provide a replacement structure that is consistent with appropriate Caltrans structural design standards, is placed on a road alignment that meets the appropriate American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) roadway geometry standards and is hydraulically capable of passing and clearing the design storm events (50‐year storm plus 2 feet of freeboard and 100‐year storm).
Recommended Action:
Staff recommends the Planning Commission take the following actions:
A. Adopt Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS 22-28) with the following findings:
1. Potential environmental impacts related to Air Quality can be mitigated to less than significant levels with the inclusion of mitigation measures AQ-1 and AQ-2.
2. Potential environmental impacts related to Biological Resources can be mitigated to less than significant levels with the inclusion of mitigation measures BIO-1 through BIO-17.
3. Potential environmental impacts related to Cultural Resources can be mitigated to less than significant levels with the inclusion of mitigation measures CUL-1 and CUL-2.
4. Potential environmental impacts related to Hazards & Hazardous Materials can be mitigated to less than significant levels with the inclusion of mitigation measures HAZ-1 through HAZ-3.
5. Potential environmental impacts related to Hydrology/Water Quality can be mitigated to less than significant levels with the inclusion of mitigation measures WQ-1 through WQ-9.
6. Potential environmental impacts related to Noise can be mitigated to less than significant levels with the inclusion of mitigation measures NOS-1 through NOS-6.
7. Potential environmental impacts related to Transportation can be mitigated to less than significant levels with the inclusion of mitigation measures TRAN-1.
B. Staff recommends the Planning Commission, after reviewing the agenda report and receiving evidence at the public meeting, find that the Wolf Creek Bridge Replacement Project (Bridge No. 14C-0049), applied for by the Lake County Department of Public Works, located in unincorporated Spring Valley in Lake County, Quad: Benmore Canyon T14N, R07W, Section 11 UTM Zone 10 (bridge at 39.082336, -122.604181, along County rights-of-way and temporary easements on adjacent properties to the north) is in conformance with the County of Lake General Plan pursuant to California Government Code Section 65402.