Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/704274
ByLeonardStohler I had intended to write about the closed railroad bridge over the Russian River in Healdsburg, but since the summer is half over, I thought I would write about a bridge you might want to see before the snow falls. I clipped a short article in the Daily News in 2013 headlined "Plumas County bridge earns national award." That was enough to get my attention as it stated that Caltrans District 2, along with contractor C.C. Myers, Inc. had been awarded the Engineering News-Record's "Best of the Best" Highway/Bridge Proj- ect Award for 2013. It had beat out major projects like the Dumbarton Bridge Seis- mic Retrofit Project south of San Francisco. It turned out that it was not easy to find exactly where the bridge was lo- cated. Not being very fa- miliar with Plumas County, I asked Johnny Luzzadder who grew up close by in Por- tola. His dad was an engi- neer for the Western Pacific Railroad based in Portola and also out of Keddie on the high line to New Bieber with a connection with the Great Northern R.R. John worked both of them as well. Red Bluff profited from John going to Chico State and becoming a long-time and outstanding teacher and coach at Bidwell School and Vista School. So, with instructions, we drove on Highway 36 past Mineral, the Lassen Park turn-off and on to- wards Chester. Just before Lake Almanor and Ches- ter we turned right, south, onto Highway 89 towards Quincy, and then a left turn onto Highway 70. You will probably miss the bridge, which is just be- fore you get to Quincy, as it gives no evidence of such a structure from the roadway because all you see is the roadway. There is an area that tells about the bridge before you go over it, but unless you know where the bridge is, you might miss it. There is safe parking on both sides of the bridge and if the timing is right you might witness a train above you slowing down for the switch to Feather River Canyon or to the north. Located in a pine-stud- ded canyon in the Plumas National Forest, this seven- span box-girder bridge is supported by an open span- drel arch 160 feet above Spanish Creek. It replaces an obsolete 1932 steel truss bridge. To my dismay, the old bridge was torn down. The new bridge is a seis- mically engineered 627 feet long bridge, 43 feet wide, with a 354-foot arch, opened 108 days ahead of schedule. It was engineered to withstand the seismically active area and is said to be "economical, aesthetic and safe." It is one of just four arched bridges constructed in the last century in Cali- fornia. When you see it, you will judge that it is aestheti- cally pleasing to the eye. For more detailed infor- mation, just Google it. You will find photos and infor- mation about both the old and new bridges. Of interest to me was the mass-concrete cooling sys- tem to pump cold water from the creek to circulate through the arch concrete pour which saved $200,000 in diesel and the five-hour haul-around to bring heavy equipment across to the other side due to bridges that would not support the heavy loads. There are sev- eral more interesting chal- lenges including three tres- tles that were constructed, a stabilizing soil wall, digging into the bedrock, a nearby railroad tunnel, possible slides and flooding, the re- alignment of the road to the new bridge and the danger of creating seismic activity. The project team safely per- formed 70,765 man-hours without a recordable injury. Contractor C.C. Myers, RanchoCordova;OwnerCal- trans, Sacramento; Lead Design/Engineer Caltrans, Chico; Subcontractors Drill Tech, Antioch; Knife River Construction, Chico; Pacific Coast Steel, Fairfield; W.C. Maloney, Stockton; Neil's Controlled Blasting, New- castle. Another plus in the area is the town of Quincy. It has a museum that tells the story of the Feather River Canyon railroad building. This was the canyon that was believed would never have a railroad. The highway view of the Feather River Canyon is breathtaking. With bridges almost too many to count, the railroad and its mag- nificent natural beauty, the canyon is one of the most picturesque rides in Cal- ifornia as you journey on Highway 70 towards Para- dise and Chico. LeonardStohlerhas lived in Tehama County since 1969. He has always been interested in many things, with a passion for photography, history, literature, theology, gardening, technology, including the progression of architectural design. Within the last year, he is focusing on bridges he has visited and some he will visit, if time and resources allow. He may be reached at rblen37@gmail.com. TRAVELOGUE Elegant arch bridge spans Spanish Creek Canyon PHOTOBYLEONARDSTOHLER The Spanish Creek Canyon bridge close to Quincy is pictured. SATURDAY, JULY 16, 2016 REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM | NEWS | 3 B