Stanislaus National Forest

News Release

USDA Forest Service
Stanislaus National Forest

Upper Niagara Creek Bridge loads reduced

Sonora, CA (August 8, 2007) ... The Forest Service today announced that the maximum load rating on the Upper Niagara Creek Bridge has been temporarily reduced from standard highway legal limits to ten tons (20,000 pounds). Forest Service engineers recommended the load limit after inspections and tests revealed the pier and abutment foundations were significantly undercut, and the bridge superstructure did not contain sufficient steel reinforcement to meet standards for highway legal loads. The bridge was built in 1970.

Plans are underway to permanently replace the bridge at an estimated cost of $250,000 in 2008 or 2009, depending on funding availability. In the meantime, a temporary military style Bailey bridge with the capacity to handle standard highway legal loads will be placed across the creek, up stream from the original bridge. Installation of the temporary bridge will occur as soon as possible.

“Unfortunately, until we can get the Bailey bridge installed, I believe there is a legitimate public safety concern that requires the load reduction” said Forest Supervisor Tom Quinn. Reduced load limits mean that all vehicles weighing more than 20,000 pounds can not use the bridge. Understanding that this may be a problem for some people, Quinn assures the public that this situation is a priority and that the Forest Service has begun needed environmental and engineering studies.

Until the Bailey bridge is installed, temporary procedures have been developed to accommodate the potential need for emergency response vehicles such as fire engines. In the event of a wildfire, heavy fire equipment will be allowed to cross the existing bridge after posting lookouts and following specific safety procedures.

A low-water crossing was considered, but constructing approach ramps that could accommodate large vehicles, and mitigating the impacts to Niagara Creek, would be time-consuming and expensive.

The Upper Niagara Creek bridge is located off of Highway 108 at about 7000 feet elevation where road 5N01 (Eagle Meadow Road) crosses Niagara Creek on the Stanislaus National Forest. National Forest Service Road 5N01 provides the only road access to private land in-holdings surrounded by National Forest Land, range allotment permit holders, campers and others seeking recreation opportunities in the Eagle Meadow and Long Valley areas on the Summit Ranger District.