Corps of Engineers installs pedestrian bridge across Bull Creek
By Brooks O. Hubbard IV

A crane lowers a 145-foot steel bridge into place at the Bull Creek Restoration Project Dec. 9. The bridge is one of four new pedestrian bridges included in the project. (USACE photo by Danny Kelly)

A 300-ton crane hoisted the 145-foot steel bridge across the channel as workers from USACE guided the bridge onto pre-constructed concrete footings.

“The unique part about this bridge is that it was constructed with a special rust factor that allows the bridge to rust once and forms a special coating that prevents the bridge from rusting any further, and never will have to be maintained or serviced,” said Paul Mundell, project superintendent with C.W. Crosser Construction, Inc.

“The bridges were pre-constructed in Colorado and we will add five inches of concrete across the walking path of the bridge,” Mundell said.

The bridge will provide pedestrian and maintenance access; connect to pedestrian trails on both sides of Bull Creek; and serve as an overlook onto habitat areas. Reclaimed water from Lake Balboa will later fill the channel.

The project calls for the creation of about 27.9 acres of aquatic, riparian and native upland habitat to enhance and restore wildlife resources along the Bull Creek channel in the Sepulveda Dam Flood Control Basin.

Overall, the project will restore scarce, high-value wildlife habitat to the degraded area. The project is ahead of schedule, and should be complete by early 2009, according to Mundell.