Newell Road Bridge Replacement Project Status- May 2024
Published on May 15, 2024
Progress continues on the steps needed to replace the Newell Road Bridge.
Find recent updates on various aspects of the complex bridge replacement below.
May 15, 2024 UPDATE:
Project Plans & Specifications: No significant changes to report. Minor edits are being made to the 100% plans in preparation for bidding.
Right of Way (ROW) Acquisition: The ROW Certification is a Caltrans Highway Bridge Program grant requirement. ROW certification must be completed and approved by Caltrans prior to initiating the Construction Phase or soliciting bids for construction. The City has acquired the two encroachment permits and five of the eight temporary construction easements needed to advance the project. The three remaining easements will be signed by the end of May. City staff is working with the utility providers and key contacts to relocate the overhead lines that are in the area. This work is tentatively scheduled to be performed later this summer. The key stakeholders recognize that this work must be done before the bridge mobilization can start. The three main utilities (PG&E, Comcast, and AT&T) are working with Palo Alto to sequence their efforts. Right-of-way acquisition is a complicated process due to the various entities but has advanced and is on track to allow the bridge work to start.
Permitting: Earlier this month, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife provided its draft permit, which is currently under review by staff. Staff continues to work with the Regional Water Board and Army Corps of Engineers on their permits. Staff tentatively expects to complete permitting by the end of May. Additionally, Caltrans revalidated the National Environmental Protection Act clearance that was originally issued in May 2020.
Project Funding: On October 20, 2023 Caltrans issued their list of funding commitments for the federal Highway Bridge Program, moving the construction funding of $8.8M from FY25/26 to FY23/24. In November 2023, Palo Alto also secured and received the $2M from Assembly Bill 179 dedicated to the project at Senator Becker’s request as part of the Priority Legislative Project. Caltrans continues to review the 2023 requests for additional construction funding. However, once the right-of-way acquisition is complete and approved by Caltrans, the City intends to submit a Request for Authorization to Caltrans to start the Construction phase of the Highway Bridge Program grant. Although the $8.8M will not cover the full cost of the project, it is significant and will allow the City to solicit bids for construction. Caltrans suggested that the City request the available funding now and follow-up with the additional amount once construction bids have come in.
Pre-Construction Tasks: A Construction Management firm has been selected to assist the City through the construction process. The team has experience on similar projects and has worked with Palo Alto and East Palo Alto in the past. The team was selected after reviewing a total of three proposals and conducting interviews. The City of Palo Alto will enter into a contract with the consultant in the fall, at same time as the construction contract is awarded.
Find the Newell Road Bridge Replacement webpage.