Sacramento city councilman says update is coming for stalled bridge project in Land Park

An update is coming on a stalled bike path bridge expansion project that has drawn frustration from Sacramento residents.

The Del Rio Bridge expansion over Interstate 5 connecting the Land Park neighborhood to the Sacramento River Bike Trail, which was expected to open over the summer, was rejected by the city Aug. 30 because it didn’t conform to specifications.

“We understand the frustration and desire for greater communication and transparency, but we also need to manage legal risks in disclosing information prematurely,” Councilman Rick Jennings wrote in an Oct. 4 update to residents in his district. “As soon as possible, we will share more details, including potential timelines for the bridge’s replacement and eventual opening.”

In a letter written by Adam Randolph of Sacramento Public Works to the Mountain Methods engineering firm, Mountain Methods was directed to provide a plan and schedule a removal of the existing structure by Sept. 30. Randolph wrote the project was built out of conformance with agreed-on plans and approved concrete mixture designs.

The bridge carrying the Del Rio Trail over Riverside Boulevard and Interstate 5 to the Sacramento River Bike Trail in July. The city rejected the contractor’s work on the bridge, citing an unapproved concrete mixture design, among other specifications issues, and the bridge remains off limits to runners and cyclists.
The bridge carrying the Del Rio Trail over Riverside Boulevard and Interstate 5 to the Sacramento River Bike Trail in July. The city rejected the contractor’s work on the bridge, citing an unapproved concrete mixture design, among other specifications issues, and the bridge remains off limits to runners and cyclists.

“The city finds that the lightweight concrete and rebar placed at the Land Park Underpass Widening is nonconforming to the contract requirements and is rejected. The contractor must remove the structure widening and replace it with the prequalified and authorized materials in conformance with the approved contract,” the letter said.

A city spokeswoman said Monday that Mountain Methods requested and was granted more time to respond to the city’s demands but no further details on a timeline were available.

The Del Rio Trail Project aimed to create a 4.8-mile trail running through Land Park, South Land Park, Freeport Manor, Z’Berg, Pocket and Meadowview neighborhoods between I-5 and Freeport Boulevard. The total cost of the project was $23 million, though the city has not said how much the bridge portion of the project cost.

The project was designed to provide an alternative for bicyclists, runners and pedestrians to use the busy Sutterville Road to get to the bike trail along the Sacramento River. The project was designed in two phases to open the trail before the bridge was finished.

“The community’s frustration with this situation is understood and justified,” Jennings wrote. “We have all been waiting for this safe crossing over Riverside Blvd and Interstate 5 for a long time. The ability to reach the river without navigating Sutterville Road and the I-5 interchange is a significant safety and access improvement. Coming up to the bridge and seeing it blocked off is a cruel reminder that the bridge is not yet open.”

The bridge carrying the Del Rio Trail over Riverside Boulevard and Interstate 5 to the Sacramento River Bike Trail in July. The city rejected the contractor’s work on the bridge, citing an unapproved concrete mixture design, among other specifications issues, and the bridge remains off limits to runners and cyclists.
The bridge carrying the Del Rio Trail over Riverside Boulevard and Interstate 5 to the Sacramento River Bike Trail in July. The city rejected the contractor’s work on the bridge, citing an unapproved concrete mixture design, among other specifications issues, and the bridge remains off limits to runners and cyclists.